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From "La CathCdrale de Rci»is," Libraire Centrale des Beaux-Arts, Pans. 
THE WEST FRONT OF THE CATHEDRAL OF REIMS 



The 
BOMBARDMENT 

of REIMS 



Barr Ferree 



New York 

Leonard Scott Publication Company 

1917 






Copyright, 191 7. 

By Barr Ferree. 

All rights reserved. 



NOV 23 1817 



©CU477690 



CONTENTS 

The BoMBARDMbx.T OF Reims 7 

Chronology of the Bombardment: 

1914 21 

1915 33 

1916 59 

1917 S7 

Postscript 11 1 

The Buildings of Reims 113 

The Destruction of the Buildings of 
Reims 122 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

The West Front of the Cathedral of Reims 

Frontispiece 
From "La Cathedrale de Reims," Libralre 
Centrale des Beaux-Arts, Paris 

The Front at Reims in May, 1917 19- 

The West Portals 64.' 

From "La Cathedrale de Reims," Libraire 
Centrale des Beaux-Arts, Paris 

The Cathedral after the Bombardment 
OF April, 19 17: The Apse and South 

Transept 96 

From "L'lllustration" 

The Hotel de Ville 112 



The Bombardment of Reims 

THE bombardment of Reims, and the 
attendant destruction of its cathedral, is an 
event that has particularly excited the 
indignation of the civilized world. The sacrifice 
has seemed so wanton and so unnecessary that the 
souls of those who have not known the great church 
by personal observation have cried out in indigna- 
tion against the outrage, while to those who have 
known it, its long continued passion has aroused 
the feeling of an intense personal loss. No other 
episode of the Great War has accomplished such 
complete destruction of so great a work of art. Its 
blackened walls and broken statues are the most 
formidable indictment the Germans have yet raised 
against themselves. As an event in the War it 
stands unique among countless other inexcusable 
horrors, and it has, therefore seemed worth while 
to summarize briefly the dreadful doings at 
Reims, that the real nature of the hideous tragedy 
may be made apparent. 

For an American, remote from the seat of war, 
to attempt a survey of the bombardment of Reims 
is a hazardous task. Yet I have ventured to do so 
because the continued dreadfulness of this great 
siege, which has lasted more than three years, 
is quite unknown in this country, and, even in the 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



meagre details here set forth, not fully known in 
France. The bombardment of Reims has con- 
tinued from September 3, 19 14, without inter- 
ruption, save for the few days of the German 
occupation in that month, and some days designated 
as ''calm" in the daily reports. But these "calm" 
days form part of the history of the siege, since 
no one could tell at what hour the bombardment 
might be renewed. 

Little as to the bombardment of Reims has 
appeared in the American papers, and not much 
more in the Paris papers. The official bulletins 
give so small space to it that they have been entirely 
neglected in the preparation of this chronology. 
More than once the papers published in Reims 
have complained of the silence of the Paris papers 
on the attacks on their beloved city, and have 
frequently referred to the importance attached to 
minor details elsewhere, while nothing at all has 
been said as to more important events at Reims. 

The hand of the censor has at all times rested 
heavily on Reims, the local censor sometimes not 
permitting the publication of details that have 
appeared in -the few references in Paris news- 
papers. At the beginning of the bombardment the 
papers of Reims published quite full details, giving 
the names and addresses of persons killed or 
wounded, and the location of buildings burned or 
otherwise injured in the bombardment. These 
items were speedily suppressed, and the greater 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



part of the record in available publications is not 
much more detailed than is given in these pages. 

But if details are wanting it is not impossible to 
draw an outline picture of the whole bombard- 
ment. This I have undertaken to do; and while I 
cannot hope, from an accurate point of view, that 
this work can have any value, I am not without 
hope that as a general review of the bombardment 
from the beginning, this little book may find a place 
in the vast literature of the war. Certainly the 
facts here gathered are quite unknown in America, 
and, in their entirety, are almost as little known in 
France, since no one in that besieged land as yet 
attempted a similar undertaking. 

The present record covers the three years of 
the bombardment from September 3, 19 14 to 
September 3, 1917. A siege extending over so 
considerable a period of time, attended as it has 
been, with months of ferocious assaults, with great 
loss of life, and the useless destruction of great 
works of art, may well be chronicled for that 
period. And this is the more the case since the 
details here gathered have not before been 
grouped together in their entirety. 

It is much too soon to attempt a full history of 
the bombardment of Reims, but the outlines of 
the dreadful story may now be brought together. 
It should be sufficiently obvious that the bombard- 
ment of Reims is not a small episode in the war, 
but an event continuous from the very beginning. 



10 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

The chronology here published has been com- 
piled from the local newspapers published at Reims 
and at Paris. I have made use of "Le Courrier de 
la Champagne", published in Reims, ''Le Petit 
Remois", published in Paris from December 15, 

19 1 5, and the journal "Reims a Paris", also pub- 
lished in Paris from December, 19 14. The editor of 
the latter paper having been called to the colours, 
it was merged with "La Marne" and has appeared 
as "Reims a Paris et la Marne" since October 4, 

19 1 6. The daily records of the bombardment, 
printed in "Le Courrier de la Champagne", are 
those compiled by its own staff. The records 
printed in the other papers are compiled from "Le 
Courrier de la Champagne" and "L'Eclaireur 
de I'Est", also printed in Reims. "Le Petit 
Remois" has made free use of both these papers, 
and in addition has published the reports of its 
editor, M. Pierre Blenvenue, residing in Reims. 
Owing to the fury of the bombardment in April 
"Le Courrier" was forced to suspend publication 
for the time being, but "L'Eclaireur" was able to 
continue in a much reduced form. 

The French Republic paid a fine tribute to this 
journalistic heroism when President Poincare 
pinned the Cross of the Legion of Honour on the 
breast of M. Paul Dramas, the managing editor of 
"L'Eclaireur de I'Est" on June 18, 19 17, when the 
same distinction was given to Cardinal Lugon, 
Archbishop of Reims, and Deputy Mayors J. de 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS II 

Bruignac and E. Charbonneaux, and some other 
heroic citizens. It is impossible to turn over the 
pages of these little Reims papers without a 
heartening sense of the courage that permitted 
their publication daily throughout a harrowing 
siege. Heroic journalism in a very true sense. 

Among other sources of information special 
mention should be made of "Le Martyre de 
Reims", published anonymously in parts. It began 
with the admirable purpose of presenting a detailed 
(summary of life and events in Reims during the 
bombardment, giving the names of persons killed 
or wounded, and the locality of buildings injured. 
The censor speedily fell afoul of this useful sum- 
mary: names of persons and buildings were 
stricken out, as well as other details, and finally the 
diary came to a temporary end with Part 41. 

I must mention also' the "Journal d'un Remois'* 
by M. Henri Jadart, which appeared in "Les 
Champs de Bataille, Collection du Tour de 
France, Les Cites Meurtries", edited by M. 
Octave Beauchamp. M. Jadart is librarian and 
curator of the Museum of the City of Reims, and 
has kept In close touch with everything relating to 
his city. His "Bibliographle Remolse", read 
before the Academy of Reims, of which he Is the 
Secretary-General, at a meeting in Paris in June, 
19 16, is a useful record of the extensive literature 
produced by the bombardment. The series "Les 
Cites Meurtries" also includes "Reims sous les 



12 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

obus en 19 15" by Mile. Alice Martin, carrying the 
story Into that year. Mention should also be made 
of the publication "Reims et la Marne. Almanach 
de la Guerre, 19 14-19 15", published in Paris by 
M. Jules Matot. This book contains no calendar 
of the bombardment, but a daily summary of gen- 
eral events at Reims, and therefore it is more 
particularly of local Interest. The article "Trois 
Semaines a Reims" by General Dubois, published 
In "La Revue" for Oct. -Nov., 19 14, contains some 
useful notes on the first weeks of the bombardment. 
Just as my chronology had been completed I 
obtained the new book by M. Jules Poirier "Reims 
(i Aout — 31 Decembre, 19 14)", giving a survey 
of the early events of the war as they related to 
Reims, and summarizing the daily events in diary 
form. It has given me some additional facts on the 
first five months of the bombardment. "Sous les 
Bombes" by Mile. Clotilde Jehanne Remy, of 
which two parts have appeared. Is a personal diary 
of life In Reims during the bombardment. 

Although I have been obliged to place complete 
dependence on printed records, it should be pointed 
out that there is often a wide divergence between 
them. The statements printed in the two Reims 
newspapers do not always agree for the same day, 
and "Le Petit Remois", In endeavouring to present 
a fair and just account, has more than once printed 
the divergent reports, and clarified the matter by 
adding its own summary, which often differed from 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 1 3 

the Other two! I fancy, however, that many of 
these differences are apparent only, and are perhaps 
not so striking as they first appear. 

It has seemed desirable to give the details of the 
bombardment as far as the local reports permit. 
That is to say, the hours of the bombardment, the 
number of shells, the number of persons killed or 
wounded. The hours of the bombardment are an 
interesting Index to the agitated daily life at Reims. 
The number of shells Is also of Interest as indicating 
the possible intensity of the attack. But as am- 
munition of all kinds and sizes, huge and small 
shells, shrapnel, Incendiary and asphyxiating bombs 
and many other kinds of projectiles have been used 
in the siege, a mere statement of number of shells 
hardly gives a proper Index to the horror of any 
one bombardment. But the shell records as to kind 
are highly incomplete in the published reports, and 
it has not seemed worth while to make an effort to 
indicate them. In the dreadful days of March, 
April, May and June, 19 17, when the fall of shells 
was colossal, even the newspapers gave up attempts 
at numbering them, and it is probable the actual 
totals will never be known. The number of per- 
sons killed and wounded help also to show the 
severity of the bom-bardments, and have no other 
purpose In this survey. I can scarcely hope that 
my records of these items approach completeness. 



14 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

and they have been omitted from April, May and 
June, 19 17. The number of persons killed or 
wounded are, for the most part, those of the civilian 
population of Reims. 

In addition to bombardment from guns Reims 
has suffered from the German aviators. I have 
designated these birds of prey as "Taube", as an 
economical form of expression. Every considerable 
bombardment was preceded by these visitors. 
Nearly every day one or more of them appeared 
above Reims, and they seem to have been looked 
upon as so much matter of course that I suspect 
their presence was often unnoted in the reports. 
Whenever possible they were eagerly welcomed by 
the guns of Reims, and hence it followed that, not 
only was the city subject to the bombardment of the 
enemy, but on several occasions injury was done in 
it by antiaerial shells falling back. 

A mere glance at the daily records shows that, 
until March, 19 17, no definite purpose was behind 
this bombardment. It was continued for two years 
and a half for no other purpose than to annoy the 
French. Else why these daily bombardments of a 
few shells only, these days of calm or of little 
doing, these spurts of agony, bringing sudden death 
or useless destruction, only to be followed by lapses 
Into silence ? Had the destruction of Reims been 
seriously undertaken it might, I suppose, have been 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 1 5 

accomplished long since. But it pleased the enemy 
to irritate rather than to destroy; a little harm day 
by day, a little annoyance, more or less, spread over 
a considerable period of time, with occasional out- 
bursts of great violence, this was the programme. 
Or, more dreadful still, when the German forces 
met with defeat, the guns were opened afresh on 
the helpless cathedral, that it might be wounded 
again for disasters it had in no sense been party to. 
While doubtless all this has been thoroughly under- 
stood by the French military authorities, little was 
known of it to the outside world, for little that 
went on at Reims was known anywhere. There 
were many other and more important things in the 
Great War that affected the future of France and 
of the world. Humanity held its breath while the 
heroic battle of Verdun was in progress, because 
it was a military event of the first magnitude. But 
so little has been heard of Reims that a revelation 
of its daily martyrdom must come as a shock to 
those who have closely followed the war. 

The story presented from the month of March, 
19 17, is quite different from anything that pre- 
ceded. Very obviously the foolish game of play- 
war was abandoned, and a real effort made to 
accomplish the destruction of the city. The mind 
pales before the needless horrors of these months, 
so inefficiently indicated by a record of continuous 



1 6 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

and continued bombardment. So full of horror 
has been this time that the local papers speak of a 
daily fall of 600 shells, or even 1000 shells, as a 
welcome relief from days just passed ! 

And the cathedral. That, of course, is the one 
central overpowering thing that excites the interest 
of the world in the bombardment of Reims. This 
is not so with the unfortunate people of Reims, 
who have seen their loved ones killed, their houses 
ruined, their occupations gone, and who have 
suffered daily privation and martyrdom. Reims is 
not alone among the cities and districts of France 
in such horrors, but its cathedral is one of the 
treasures of the world, and in this war of great 
crimes no greater crime has been attempted than 
the destruction of this splendid church. 

Three years ago its vast bulk and massive 
towers rose grandly above its surrounding build- 
ings in all the pride of lasting permanency. For 
seven hundred years these stones had cried aloud 
to the glory of God and the supreme genius of its 
French builders and decorators. France — that 
treasure-house of architectural masterpieces — had 
no more noble building than this, so dear to the 
French people by reason of the supremacy of its 
art and as the coronation church of their kings, and 
once the emblem and the expression of their 
nationality. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 1 7 



In its present dismantled, battered, more than 
half-ruined state, the cathedral of Reims is of all 
the unnecessary sacrifices in the War the most 
unnecessary. It has been too great and too good a 
thing to disappear from the world without leaving 
an empty place that cannot be filled. Once, In far 
back September, 19 14, the merciless barbarian 
encamped before its holy portals. There he stayed 
for nine days, and, leaving in haste, presently bom- 
barded it, so that his own wounded, temporarily 
placed within It for safety, were burned alive under 
the protecting flag of the Red Cross. A pitiable 
comment on his regard for great churches and the 
well-being of the wounded. 

Since then — ^September 12, 19 14, to be exact- 
no good news has come out of Reims. Yet of this 
we may be certain : devoted as the French are to 
their great national church, they will gladly sacri- 
fice It utterly if that sacrifice be required to thrust 
out the barbaric invading hordes that know only 
hate of the good, the true, the beautiful. 

The catastrophe of Reims supplies a very sure 
index as to what passes as the quality of the 
German mind. Although of all churches the most 
French, the cathedral of Reims belongs to the 
whole world, a rare, beautiful and precious 
structure, hallowed with great memories and 
endowed "with exquisite art. The question is thus 
very simple : is the world better with the cathedral 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



of Reims or without It? The Germans seem un- 
questionably to have decreed its destruction. Of 
this the record of the bombardment offers ample 
proof. But as yet the cathedral-destroyers have 
offered no word, no hint, no suggestion, as to how 
or why the world will be bettered by the wilful 
destruction of this matchless church. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 1 9 



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THE FRONT AT REIMS IN MAY, 1917 



1914 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 23 



September, 1914 

2 French army evacuated Reims In the night. 

3 Taube dropped 2 bombs 9:15 A. M.; Dr. 

Langlet, Mayor of Reims, issued proclama- 
tion announcing the approach of the 
Germans and urging calm. German 
officers enter Reims 8 130 P. M. 

4 First bombardment 9:22 A. M., 176 shells, 

many killed and wounded ; minor injuries to 
the cathedral, glass broken; St. Remi and St. 
Andre injured; German troops enter in 
afternoon; anniversary of the German occu- 
pation of 1870. 

5 German occupation. 

6 German occupation. 

7 German occupation. 

8 German occupation. 

9 German occupation. 

10 German occupation. 

1 1 German occupation. 

12 German troops evacuate Reims In afternoon; 

French officers appear 6 130 P. M. 

13 French troops re-enter Reims 6 A. M.; Taube 

5 P. M.; last vespers in the cathedral (in 
chapel of the Cardinal) : Te Deum for 
Benedict XV. 



24 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

14 Cannonade from 5 A. M.; bombardment 9:45 

A. M. to 12:15 P. M.; renewed i to 3:30 
P. M.; 59 killed, many wounded; cannonade 
all night. 

15 Taubes 5 A. M.; bombardment 9:30 to 11 

A. M.; renewed 4 P. M., 13 killed. 

16 Bombardment 3:30 A. M. to 6:30 P. M., 

30 killed. 

17 Bombardment from 9 A. M.; renewed 2:30 

to 4 P. M., 3 shells on cathedral. 

18 Cannonade from 2 A. M. ; bombardment from 

8:15 A. M., 13 shells on cathedral, 37 
killed; Sous-Prefecture burned. 

19 Bombardment 7:45 A. M. to 4 P. M., 16 

shells on cathedral ; cathedral took fire from 
incendiary bomb 2:30 P. M.; cathedral and 
Archiepiscopal Palace burned; 32 killed; 
artillery all night. 

20 Bombardment 9:30 to 11 A. M.; renewed 

3:30 to 4:30 P. M. 

21 Calm; artillery at night. 

22 Bombardment 12 to 3:30 P. M., 7 killed, 

Cardinal Lugon returned to Reims from 
Conclave at Rome. 

23 Taube 6 A. M. ; bombardment 3 to 5 P. M. 

24 Taube 6 A. M. ; bombardment 9 130 to 1 1 

A. M.; renewed 3 to 5 P. M.; bomb struck 
cathedral and Civil Hospital; 10 killed; 
cannonade all night. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 25 

25 Trenches bombarded in morning; Reims 

bombarded 3 to 5 P. M.; bomb struck St. 
Remi, i killed; cannonade all night. 

26 Bombardment 11:45 A. M. to 12:15 P. M., 

13 killed; renewed 3:30 to 4:30 P. M., 17 
killed. 

27 Bombardment 3 :30 P. M. ; cannonade at night. 

28 Bombardment 2 :30 P. M. ; cannonade at night. 

29 Bombardment 9:30 to 10:30 A. M.; renewed 

4 to 6 P. M.; again 9 P. M. to 6 A. M., 
3 killed, many wounded. 

30 Bombardment continued to 6 A. M.; renewed 

8 A. M. and 4:30 P. M. 



26 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



October, 1914 

1 Some shells 9 A. M.; 2 aerial bombs 5:15 P. 

M. ; cannonade at night. 

2 Bombardment 4:30 P. M., 2 shells, 3 killed. 

3 Bombardment 10:30 A. M. to 3 P. M., i 

killed, 5 or 6 wounded. 

4 Bombardment 9 A. M.; renewed 12 to i P. 

M., 50 shells. 

5 Aerial combat; bombardment 9 to 1 1 A. M., 

7 killed, 7 wounded; renewed 3 P. M. to 

10 A. M. 

6 Bombardment continued to 10 A. M., 200 

shells; 3 spies shot 5 A. M. 

7 Bombardment 12:05 to 2 P. M., 50 shells, 2 

killed, 2 wounded; renewed 8 P. M. 

8 I shell in morning; bombardment 3 :30 P. M., 

15 shells, I killed, i wounded. 

9 Bombardment at night, 20 shells to 5 A. M. 

10 Bombardment continued to 5 A. M. Taube 

11 A.M. 

11 Calm. 

12 Bombardment 2 to 5 P. M., 3 shells on 

cathedral 3 P. M., 2 killed, 2 wounded. 

13 Bombardment from 2 A. M., i shell on 

cathedral 3 A. M.; renewed 9:30 to 11 A. 
M., 2 wounded. Taube dropped bomb 
2 :30 P. M.; bombardment renewed; violent 
artillery around Reims at night. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 27 

14 Bombardment 2 to 3:30 P. M., 4 wounded, 

artillery at night. 

15 Calm. 

16 Bombardment 3 130 to 5 P. M., 2 wounded. 

17 Calm. 

18 Calm. 

19 Calm. 

20 Calm. 

21 Bombardment 2 to 5 130 P. M., i wounded. 

22 Bombardment 3 130 P. M. ; cannonade at night. 

23 3 Taube bombs 1 1 A. M., 2 wounded; Taube 

2 P. M.; bombardment 4 to 5 P. M., i 
wounded. 

24 Bombardment 2 P. M. ; cannonade at night. 

25 Bombardment to noon; renewed 2 P. M., 4 

killed, 8 wounded; distant cannonade at 
night. 

26 Calm; violent cannonade at night. 

27 Bombardment 9:15 A. M. 

28 Tranquil. 127 persons wounded since Septem- 

ber 4. 

29 Bombardment 4 to 6 A. M., 50 shells; cannon- 

ade at night. 

30 Bombardment 3 to 5 130 P. M., 50 to 60 shells, 

I killed, 2 wounded; renewed 9:30 P. M. 
to 9 A. M. 

31 Bombardment continued to 9 A. M., 60 to 

70 shells, 2 killed, 2 wounded; renewed 4 
to 5 P. M., 20 shells. 



28 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



November, 1914 

1 Taube dropped 2 bombs 10:30 A. M.; 

bombardment 1 1 130 A. M., 6 shells, 2 
wounded; renewed 2:30 to 5 P. M. 

2 Bombardment 9 130 to 1 1 A. M., 20 shells. 

Taube dropped bomb 2 :io P. M. ; bombard- 
ment renewed 2 130 to 4:30 P. M., 70 shells. 

3 Bombardment from 9:30 A. M.; renewed 

4 to 6 P. M. ; again at 8 145 P. M., 8 killed, 2 
wounded. 

4 Taube dropped 4 bombs 4 P. M.; bombard- 

ment, 30 shells, 2 wounded; renewed 
1 1 P. M. 

5 Taube 7:30 A. M.; violent bombardment 2 

to 6 P. M.; renewed 8 P. M. to 5 A. M.; 
300 shells, 9 killed, 15 wounded. 

6 Bombardment continued to 5 A. M. ; renewed 

II A. M.; again 10 P. M.; 2 shells. 

7 Bombardment 8 P. M. to midnight. 

8 Dr. Langlet, Mayor of Reims, decorated with 

Legion of Honour. Bombardment 7 to 
8:30 P. M.; 50 shells. 

9 Calm. 

10 Day calm; bombardment 10 to 11 P. M.; 20 

shells. 

11 Bombardment 8 to 9 A. M.; renewed .12 to 

2:15 P. M. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 29 

12 Bombardment i 130 to 5:30 P. M.; cathedral 

apse pinnacle demolished; shrapnel fell 
within near high altar; renewed 8 P. M. to 
5 :io A. M.; 400 shells for the day. 

13 Bombardment continued to 5 :io A. M.; some 

shells in morning and at 2 130 P. M. 

14 Taube 7 A. M.; bombardment 9 A. M., 2 

shells; Taube dropped fusees 3 P. M.; can- 
nonade at night. . 

15 Taube dropped bomb 8 A. M. 

16 Some shells in morning and at 2 P. M.; heavy 

bombardment 8 130 P. M. to 5 A. M.; apse 
chapel in St. Remi demolished. 

17 Bombardment to 5 A. M.; renewed 2:30 

P. M.; Taube dropped 2 bombs. 

18 Taube dropped 2 bombs 7 A. M.; bombard- 

ment 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. 

19 Bombardment 3 A. M. ; day somewhat calm. 

20 Some shells on interdicted zone ; bombardment 

10 P. M. to 4:30 A. M., 3 wounded. 

21 Bombardment continued to 4:30 A. M.; 

renewed 2:30 P. M., 100 shells. 

22 Heavy bombardment 9:30 A. M. to noon; 

renewed 2 to 5 130 P. M.; 2 shells on cathe- 
dral; 6 killed, 24 wounded; again 8 to 1 1 
P. M. 

23 Bombardment 8 A. M. to 6 P. M.; cannonade 

all night. 

24 Bombardment 2:30 to 4:30 P. M., 50 shells. 



30 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

25 Bombardment 6 A. M., 20 shells. 

26 Bombardment 8 A. M. to 5:30 P. M., 28 

killed, 23 wounded. 

27 Bombardment from midnight; relatively calm 

to 2 P. M.; bombardment renewed 2:15 to 
6 P. M.; again 10 P. M. to 2 A. M. 

28 Bombardment continued to 2 A. M.; renewed 

3 :30 A. M., 27 killed. 

29 Calm. 

30 Bombardment 10:30 A. M. to noon. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 3 I 



December, 1914 

1 Intermittent bombardment. 

2 Bombardment lo A. M. 

3 Bombardment 9 A. M., 2 or 3 shells. 

4 Taube 11:30 A. M.; bombardment 1:30 to 

8 P. M. 

5 Bombardment 3 130 A. M. to noon. 

6 Taube dropped 3 bombs 11 A. M. 

7 Bombardment 5 to 6 P. M., 40 shells. 

8 Bombardment i to 3 P. M., 50 shells. 

9 Bombardment In afternoon, 12 shells; renewed 

In evening, 6 shells. 

10 Shrapnel morning and afternoon. 

1 1 Bombardment In morning, 4 shells ; renewed 

5:30 to 6:30 P. M. 

12 Bombardment on vacant land, 10 A. M., 14 

shells. 

13 Bombardment 9:30 to 1 1 A. M., 50 shells. 

President Poincare visited Reims. 

14 Bombardment in morning; renewed In eve- 

ning, 20 shells. 

15 Bombardment 10 A. M.; renewed 4 P. M., 

30 shells. 

16 Bombardment 5:30 to 6 P. M., 8 shells; 

renewed 9 P. M. 

17 Taube dropped bomb 9 A. M.; bombardment 

1 1 :io A. M. to dawn, more than 200 shells 
at night, 2 killed, 9 wounded. 



32 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

1 8 Bombardment continued to dawn; renewed 

morning and afternoon. 

19 Bombardment 1 1 A. M. to 12:30 P. M., 13 

wounded. 

20 Bombardment 6 P. M., 50 shells. 

21 Bombardment 1 1 A. M., 50 shells; Taube 4 

P. M. 

22 2 Taubes 3 P. M.; bombardment 3 130 P. M., 

30 shells; artillery in evening to 9 :30 P. M. 

23 Calm. 

24 Taube 3:30 P. M.; bombardment in evening, 

8 shells. 

25 Christmas Day. Taube 3 130 P. M., dropped 

4 bombs; bombardment 5:15 P. M., 30 
shells. 

26 Taube 2 130 P. M. ; bombardment 5 to 6 P. M., 

40 shells. 

27 Bombardment 5 to 6:30 P. M., 10 shells. 

28 Bombardment 11 130 A. M., 15 shells; 2 shells 

in evening. 

29 Bombardment 5 to 6 P. M., 14 shells. 

30 Bombardment 1 1 A. M.; renewed 5 to 6 

P. M., 20 shells. 

31 Bombardment 11 A. M., 2 killed, 3 wounded; 

cannonade at night. 



1915 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 35 



January, 1915 

1 Relatively calm; bombardment at night, 30 

shells. 

2 Bombardment 3 to 4 P. M. ; renewed 9 P. M. 

3 Bombardment in morning. 

4 Bombardment lo A. M. ; renewed 5 to 6 P. M. 

5 Bombardment in morning; renewed in eve- 

ning; 3 killed. 

6 Bombardment in morning, 4 shells; renewed 

5:30 P. M., 12 shells. 

7 Bombardment from 11 A. M., 108 shells. 

8 Bombardment all day; 86 shells at night; 3 

killed, 3 wounded. 

9 Copious bombardment. 

10 Bombardment in morning; renewed 5:30 

P. M. 

1 1 Bombardment 5 130 P. M. 

12 Bombardment in morning; renewed 3:30 

P. M. ; again 5 '.30 P. M. 

13 Bombardment 11 A. M.; renewed in after- 

noon and night. 

14 No report available. 

15 Bombardment 8 P. M. 

16 Bombardment in afternoon. 

17 Bombardment 4:30 P. M.; renewed 7 P. M. 

18 Bombardment i P. M., 3 killed; renewed 4 to 

5 P. M.; again 9 P. M. 



36 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

19 Bombardment 6 P. M. 

20 Copious bombardment. 

21 Bombardment at noon. 

22 Bombardment 6 to 7 P. M. 

23 Bombardment In afternoon; renewed 9 P. M. 

24 Bombardment 8 130 to 9 A. M. 

25 Bombardment 8 130 P. M. 

26 Bombardment 4:30 A. M.; renewed In eve- 

ning. 

27 Kaiser's birthday; bombardment afternoon 

and evening. 

28 Heavy bombardment; renewed 5 130 P. M. 

29 Bombardment 3 to 4:30 P. M.; renewed 8 

P. M. 

30 Bombardment In morning; renewed 5 P. M. 

31 Bombardment 6 A. M. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 37 



February, 1915 

1 Calm. 

2 Calm. 

3 Bombardment of vacant land In morning; 

renewed 2 P. M.; again 6 P. M. 

4 Bombardment 11:30 A. M. to i P. M.; 

renewed at night. 

5 Bombardment In evening. 

6 Copious bombardment. 

7 Calm. 

8 Some small calibre shells in morning. 

9 Bombardment 12:15 P. M.; renewed 3 P. M., 

I killed, 3 wounded. 

10 Some shells. 

1 1 Calm. 

12 Bombardment i P. M. 

13 Bombardment 11 A. M. 

14 Bombardment In morning. 

15 Calm. 

16 Bombardment 5 P. M. 

17 Bombardment In afternoon, i killed, 3 

wounded. 

18 Bombardment 1 1 A. M. and In afternoon, 9 

killed, several wounded. 

19 Bombardment 9 A. M. 

20 Bombardment 9 P. M. 



38 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

21 Bombardment 2:30 P. M.; ferociously re- 

newed 9 P. M. to 2 130 A. M. 

22 Bombardment continued to 2:30 A. M., 2000 

shells, many killed and wounded; renewed 
in day, 4 killed. 

23 Bombardment continued. 

24 Bombardment 10:15 A. M.; renewed 7 

P. M.; Taube dropped bomb. 

25 Bombardment from 7 A. M. 

26 Bombardm.ent from 9 A. M.; renewed i to 5 

P. M.; 2 shells on cathedral. 

27 Bombardment from 6 A. M.; renewed in 

afternoon. 

28 Bombardment In morning. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 39 



March, 1915 

1 Day calm; bombardment at night; several 

killed and wounded. 

2 Bombardment 12 to 5 P. M.; renewed 9:30 

P. M., 2 wounded. 

3 Bombardment morning and afternoon, 4 

killed, 14 wounded. 

4 Bombardment 1 1 A. M. to i 130 P. M., i 

killed, 6 wounded; renewed 2 to 5 .-30 P. M., 
3 killed, 2 wounded. 

5 Bombardment 9 A. M. to 2 P. M., i killed, 

2 wounded; renewed 4 P. M.; again 8 to 
9 .-30 P. M., I killed, 4 wounded. 

6 Bombardment in morning, 3 wounded. 

7 Bombardment most of the day. 

8 Bombardment continued, and at night. 

9 Bombardment continued, 8 wounded; re- 

newed 8 P. M. to 4 A. M. 

10 Bombardment continued to 4 A. M., i killed, 

I wounded; renewed 5 P. M.; again from 
7:30 P. M. 

11 Bombardment 5:30 P. M.; renewed 8 P. M. 

12 Day calm; bombardment from 7:30 P. M., i 

wounded. 

13 Bombardment 10 A. M., 2 victims; renewed 

8 P. M. to 4 A. M.; Taube in afternoon. 



40 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

14 Bombardment continued to 4 A. M.; renewed 

in day, 4 wounded. 

15 Bombardment 4 A. M.; renewed 9 A. M.; 

again 5 to 6 P. M., 4 wounded. 

1 6 Calm ; some shells at night. 

17 Bombardment 2:15 to 4 P, M. 

18 Day relatively calm; some shells. 

19 Moderate bombardment; some shells 5 P. M. 

20 Unimportant bombardment in afternoon. 

21 Bombardment 4 A. M.; Taubes dropped 

bombs in morning; some shells in evening. 

22 Day relatively calm; some shells 6 P. M. 

23 Bombardment 1 1 A. M. to noon. 

24 Bombardment in morning; renewed 2 to 4 

P. M., again 10 P. M. 

25 Bombardment afternoon and night. 

26 Intermittent bombardment. 

27 Bombardment morning and afternoon. 

28 Bombardment morning and afternoon; Taube 

dropped bomb on cathedral apse. 
'29 Bombardment continued. 

30 Taube dropped 3 bombs 7 A. M. 

31 Almost complete calm. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 4 1 



April, 1915 

1 Taube dropped 4 bombs 7 A. M.; bombard- 

ment in afternoon. 

2 Taube dropped bombs 6 A. M. 

3 Unimportant bombardment. 

4 Easter Day. Nothing to note. 

5 Bombardment on vacant land. 

6 Nothing to note. 

7 Nothing to note. 

8 Intense bombardment 9 P. M. to 2 A. M. 

9 Bombardment continued to 2 A. M.; no shells 

in the day. 

10 Nothing to note. 

1 1 Unimportant bombardment. 

12 No report available. 

13 Almost calm; some incendiary bombs 4 P. M.; 

shells 9 P. M. 

14 No report available. 

15 Taube dropped 4 bombs 7 A. M. 

16 Taube 6 A. M.; bombardment 4:30 to 6:30 

P.M. 

17 Bombardment continued. 

1 8 Taube dropped 3 bombs 5 130 A. M. ; bombard- 

ment 5 P. M. 

19 Some incendiary bombs 3 P. M. 

20 Incendiary bombs 5 A. M.; bombardment con- 

tinued through day. 



42 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

21 Bombardment 5 to 7 P. M.; renewed at night. 

22 Incendiary bombs 10 A. M.; bombardment in 

afternoon. 

23 Calm. 

24 Bombardment 9:30 A. M.; afternoon and 

night calm. 

25 Bombardment 1 1 :30 A. M.; renewed 4 P. M. 

26 Some shells in morning. 

27 Calm. 

28 Bombardment 10:30 A. M.; renewed 4 to 5 

P. M.; again 7 to 1 1 P. M. 

29 Taubes in morning; bombardment in after- 

noon. 

30 Bombardment 7:30 A. M., 20 shells; violent 

bombardment 5 to 7 P. M. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 43 



May, 1915 

1 Taube 4:30 A. M.; bombardment morning 

and afternoon. 

2 Bombardment in morning. 

3 Bombardment 7 A. M. 

4 Bombardment 7 A. M. ; renewed 5 to 6 P. M. 

5 Bombardment 10 A. M. 

6 Bombardment 9 A. M. ; renewed 3 to 5 P. M. 

7 Bombardment 6:30 A. M. 

8 Bombardment 9:30 A. M. 

9 Bombardment in morning. 

10 Taubes dropped 2 bombs 5 130 A. M.; rifle fire 

at night. 

1 1 Bombardment morning and afternoon. 

12 Bombardment in morning. 

13 Infantry fire on French lines at night. 

14 Bombardment in morning. 

15 Taubes and bombardment in morning. 

16 More intense bombardment. 

17 Calm. 

18 Calm. 

19 Calm. 

20 Bombardment in morning, 2 or 3 shells. 

21 Bombardment 9 P. M. 

22 Bombardment at noon, 20 shells. 

23 Calm; a few shells at midnight. 

24 General calm. 



44 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

25 Bombardment at night. 

26 Calm. 

27 Calm. 

28 Bombardment In afternoon. 

29 No shells; some rifle shots In sector at night. 

30 Bombardment in day. 

3 1 Taube ; bombardment in afternoon. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 45 



June, 1915 

1 Bombardment 9 A. M. to noon. 

2 Day calm; Germans bombard French aeros 7 

A. M. 

3 Bombardment 9 to 11 A. M.; renewed 5 to 

6:30 P. M. 

4 Bombardment 5 to 6 P. M. 

5 Tranquil. 

6 Brief bombardment. 

7 Violent artillery combat on front, i to 4 A. M., 

6 shells on Reims. 

8 Calm. 

9 Calm. 

10 Bombardment in afternoon. 

1 1 Nothing to note. 

1 2 Nothing to note ; violent artillery fire on front 

east of Reims at night. 

13 Nothing to note. 

14 No report available. 

15 Bombardment, 2 or 3 shells; renewed 1 1 to 

1 1 130 P. M., 80 shells, some on cathedral. 

16 No report available. 

17 Bombardment 10 A. M., 3 or 4 shells. 

18 Calm. 

19 Bombardment in afternoon. 

20 German fire on French aeros. 

2 1 Nothing to note. 



4-6 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

. 

22 Nothing to note. 

23 Nothing to note. 

24 Nothing to note. 

25 Nothing to note; French artillery at night; no 

response. 

26 Nothing to note; French artillery In day; no 

response. 

27 Bombardment from 6:15 A. M. 

28 Nothing to note. 

29 Bombardment in morning. 

30 Bombardment in afternoon. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 47 



July, 1915 

1 Bombardment in morning; renewed 5:30 

P. M. 

2 Calm. 

3 German fire on French aeros in morning; 

bombardment 9 to 9 130 P. M. 

4 Bombardment 3 to 6 P. M. 

5 Bombardment 4:30 P. M. 

6 Nothing to note. 

7 Nothing to note. 

8 Nothing to note. 

9 Nothing to note. 

10 Nothing to note. 

11 Bombardment 10 A. M. to 2 P. M. 

12 Nothing to note. 

13 Nothing to note. 

14 Bombardment 2 P. M. 

15 Calm. 

16 Calm. 

17 Bombardment 10 A. M. to noon, 20 shells, i 

killed, I wounded. 

18 Copious bombardment. 

19 Bombardment 3 130 A. M. ; renewed 9 A. M. ; 

again 4 P. M. 

20 Taube 5 A. M.; bombardment 11 A. M. to 

12:15 P. M. 

21 Taube 7 A. M., i shell; aeros at night. 

22 Calm; artillery on front at night. 



48 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

23 Bombardment 11:30 A. M.; renewed 6:45 

P. M. ; again 1 1 to 1 1 :20 P. M. 

24 Bombardment 9:30 to 10:15 A. M.; renewed 

at night, 1 2 shells. 

25 Calm. 

26 Calm; violent cannonade at night. 

27 Bombardment 5 :30 P. M. 

28 Bombardment in morning. 

29 Bombardment 8 A. M.; renewed at night. 

30 Bombardment 6 P. M., 12 shells; artillery on 

all fronts at night. 

3 1 Some shells in day. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 49 



August, 1915 

1 No report available. 

2 Bombardment 9:30 A. M., 2 bombs on fau- 

bourgs; renewed 5 P. M. 

3 Nothing to note. 

4 Nothing to note. 

5 Some shells 5 130 P. M. 

6 French aviator violently cannonaded. 

7 Nothing to note; violent cannonade around 

Reims at night. 

8 Cannonade around Reims in day; some shells 

5:15 P. M.; Incendiary bombs at night. 

9 Cannonade on front at night. 

10 Unimportant bombardment. 

1 1 No report available. 

12 No shells on Reims; artillery actions on near- 

by places. 

13 Calm. 

14 Calm. 

15 No report available. 

16 Calm. 

17 Some shells in afternoon. 

18 Bombardment from 10:40 A. M.; some 

victims. 

19 Bombardment 2 to 3:30 P. M.; some killed 

and wounded. 

20 Bombardment 2 to 3 130 P. M.; some victims. 



50 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

21 Some shells lo A. M.; heavy bombardment 

2 to 3 :30 P. M., some victims. 

2 2 Some shells In morning; bombardment 2 to 

3 :30 P. M. 

23 Calm; fire on Taube. 

24 Fire on Taube ; some shells 5 P. M. 

25 Taube dropped 3 bombs 5 :20 P. M., i killed; 

bombardment 6 to 7:10 P. M., 150 shells, 
I killed, 4 wounded. 

26 Calm. 

27 Bombardment 4:30 P. M. 

28 Calm. 

29 Bombardment 2:45 P. M.; renewed 5 P. M., 

I killed; cannonade at night. 

30 Calm. 

31 Bombardment 7:30 A. M.; rest of day calm. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 5 I 



September, 1915 

1 Bombardment ii A. M. to noon, i wounded; 

renewed i to 1 130 P. M., 2 wounded; 100 
shells for the day. 

2 Bombardment 10 to 10:15 A. M. 

3 Bombardment 10 A. M.; renewed 3 :i 5 P. M. 

4 Anniversary of first bombardment. Bombard- 

ment 4 A. M., 20 shells ; renewed 5 P. M. 

5 Calm. 

6 Calm. 

7 Calm. 

8 Calm. 

9 No shells; French cannonade morning and 

afternoon. 

10 Artillery duel; some shells 10 A. M. 

11 Day calm; French artillery and German fire 

on aeros in afternoon. 

12 Day calm; bombardment 11:40 P. M. 

13 Bombardment 10 A. M.; cannonade at night. 

14 Calm. 

15 Calm. 

16 Calm. 

17 Bombardment in afternoon, 6 shells. 

18 Bombardment 7 A. M.; cannonade at night. 



52 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



19 Anniversary of cathedral fire in 19 14; Way of 

the Cross by the priests of Reims in the 
cathedral. French artillery 4 A. M., feeble 
response ; bombardment in morning and at 5 
P. M., I wounded. 

20 Bombardment 3 P. M.; cannonade at night. 

21 Bombardment 9:30 to 10 A. M.; renewed 4 

to 5 P. M. 

22 Bombardment morning and afternoon, 30 

shells. 

23 Bombardment 3 to 5:30 P. M., 150 shells, 

3 killed, several wounded. 

24 Bombardment 4 to 5:30 P. M., 100 shells, 

4 killed, 2 wounded. 

25 Bombardment 10 A. M., 20 shells, i killed; 

renewed 3 P. M.; 100 shells for the day. 

26 French artillery. 

27 Artillery on left front; some shells on Reims 

3 P. M. 

28 2 or 3 shells on faubourgs; cannonade on 

front. 

29 No shells on Reims; less cannonade. 

30 Calm. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 53 



October, 1915 

1 Calm. 

2 Calm. 

3 Artillery duel; some shells on faubourgs at 

night. 

4 No report available. 

5 Some shrapnel on faubourgs in afternoon. 

6 Some shells; French artillery at night. 

7 French artillery; no shells on Reims. 

8 Calm. 

9 Calm. 

10 Some shrapnel in afternoon. 

1 1 Calm. 

1 2 Bombardment 10:30 A. M. ; renewed 3 P. M. ; 

again 4 P. M.; French aeros over German 
lines. 

13 Some shells in morning. 

14 Bombardment 2:30 to 5 P. M.; French aeros. 

15 Taube dropped bomb in afternoon; bombard- 

ment in evening. 

16 Taube dropped bombs. 

17 Calm in sector;. 3 shells at night. 

18 A few shells 5 P. M. 

19 French artillery 5 A. M.; bombardment 8 to 

II A. M., 500 shells, some wounded. 

20 Bombardment 1 130 to 8 P. M., more than 200 

shells and 100 shrapnel; 6 shells at night, 
2 killed, 6 wounded. 



54 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

21 Calm. 

2 2 Some shells afternoon and night. 

23 Calm. 

24 Calm. 

25 Calm. 

26 Calm. 

27 Calm. 

28 I shell 4:45 P. M. 

29 Calm; complete stoppage of artillery on front. 

30 Complete calm. 

31 Incessant cannonade on front. 



I 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 55 



November, 1915 

1 Calm. 

2 Bombardment 1 1 A. M. ; renewed 2 P. M. 

3 Some shells morning and afternoon. 

4 Calm. 

5 Calm; cannonade on front. 

6 Calm; cannonade on front. 

7 Calm; a shell at night. 

8 Calm. 

9 Calm. 

10 Calm; cannonade on front In afternoon. 

11 Calm; cannonade on front In afternoon. 

12 Calm. 

13 I bomb 4:30 P. M. 

14 Calm; French artillery, no response. 

15 Calm. 

16 No shells; artillery on front all afternoon. 

17 No shells; artillery on front In afternoon. 

18 Calm. 

19 Artillery action; some shells In morning. 

20 Artillery; no shells on Reims. 

21 Artillery all day; no shells on Reims. 

22 Artillery In morning; fire on aeros in afternoon. 

23 French artillery In afternoon. 

24 Artillery action; 4 shells 2:15 P. M. 

25 Calm. 



^6 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

26 Some shells. 

27 Calm. 

28 French artillery; no shells on Reims. 

29 Artillery in afternoon. 

30 Some shells in morning. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 57 



December, 1915 

1 Bombardment in morning. 

2 Artillery action; some shrapnel. 

3 Bombardment in morning, i killed. 

4 Bombardment 8 130 A. M. to 1 130 P. M., 50 

shells. 

5 Some shells day and night. 

6 Calm. 

7 Some shrapnel In morning. 

8 Calm; i shell 9:30 A. M. 

9 French artillery 4 P. M.; no response. 

10 Calm. 

11 French artillery 12:30 P. M.; German 

response 4:30 P. M.; no shells on Reims. 

12 Artillery duel 3:30 P. M. 

13 Cannonade 7 A. M.; renewed 10:30 A. M. 

14 Calm; French aero over German lines 2:30 

P. M. 

15 Cannonade 6:30 to 8 A. M. 

16 Calm. 

17 Short violent cannonade at noon. 

1 8 French artillery all day ; no shells on Reims. 

19 15 shells on faubourgs in afternoon; inter- 

mittent cannonade at night. 

20 Bombardment 10 A. M.; renewed in after- 

noon, I wounded. 

21 I shell In afternoon. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



22 Calm; French artillery at long intervals. 

23 Calm. 

24 Calm. 

25 Christmas Day. Bombardment 2 to 3 P. M., 

400 shells. 

26 Reciprocal cannonade. 

27 Heavy bombardment from 9 A. M., 2 killed, 

14 wounded. 

28 Artillery duel 9 130 A. M. 

29 Cannonade 9 A. M. ; i shell 1 1 A. M. ; renewed 

in afternoon, again at 9 P. M.; again at 11 
P. M. 

30 Intense cannonade in Reims sector in after- 

noon. 

31 Calm; Taube 2 130 P. M. 



! 



1916 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 6 1 



January, 1916 

1 Artillery duel at night. 

2 Artillery duel in afternoon; artillery at night. 

3 Nothing to note. 

4 French artillery; some shells on outskirts. 

5 Taube; some shells. 

6 Day calm; French artillery at night; small 

response. 

7 Calm; artillery to left, 4 P. M. 

8 Calm; artillery at night. 

9 Artillery duel in morning; Taubes in after- 

noon; violent artillery at night. 

10 Calm. 

11 Day calm; artillery at night. 

12 Taube 2 P. M.; artillery at night. 

13 A shell fell in a garden lo A. M.; Taube 2 

P. M.; night calm. 

14 Some artillery 4 P. M. 

15 Calm. 

16 Calm. 

17 Aerial battle 1 1 A. M. 

18 Calm; artillery at end of afternoon and at 

night. 

19 Bombardment 2 to 2:30 P. M., 200 shells, i 

killed. 

20 Day calm; bombs in evening, 3 killed, 5 

wounded. 



62 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

21 Artillery in sector. 

22 Calm; artillery on front. 

23 Artillery morning and afternoon; aerial com- 

bat in afternoon. 

24 Calm. 

25 Day calm; short cannonade at midnight. 

26 Calm; artillery chiefly to north of Reims. 

27 Kaiser's birthday. Bombardment 1 1 A. M. to 

2 P. M., 7 killed, 27 wounded. 

28 Calm; Taube 12 130 P. M.; French artillery to 

west of Reims. 

29 Bombardment 2 P. M., 50 shells; renewed 7 

P. M.; Taube 3 P. M. 

30 Calm. 

3 1 Artillery on all Reims fronts ; Taubes and aeros 

10 A. M. to 2 P. M. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 6^ 



February, 1916 

1 Taubes ; artillery duel to right and left. 

2 Bombardment from 2 130 P. M., 250 shells. 

3 Aeros; French artillery i P. M. 

4 Calm. 

5 Bombardment 3 to 4:30 P. M., 20 shells. 

6 3 shells on a faubourg 10 A. M. 

7 French artillery; no response; artillery duel on 

front 9 P. M. 

8 Bombardment 11 to 11 .-30 A. M., 4 shells on 

faubourg; renewed 2 to 2:30 P. M., 50 
shells, I wounded. 

9 Bombardment 5 P. M., 12 shells on faubourg; 

artillery duel 7 to 9 P. M. 

10 French artillery on left 9 A. M. 

1 1 Artillery in sector in morning. 

12 Violent bombardment 9:30 to 11:30 A. M., 

no shells, I killed; renewed in afternoon; 
French artillery on left at night. 

13 Bombardment in morning, 12 shells; renewed 

12:15 P. M., 6 shells, 6 wounded. 

14 Bombardment on left 3:30 to 10 A. M.; re- 

newed 10:30 A. M. to 12:30 P. M., more 
than 100 shells. 

15 Calm. 

16 Some shells on faubourgs. 

17 Cannonade 10 A. M.; some shells. 



64 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

1 8 Artillery in sector. 

19 Artillery In sector. 

20 Bombardment 2 to 3 P. M., 20 shells. 

21 Taube dropped 7 bombs 9 130 A. M., 2 killed, 

5 wounded; 2 shells In afternoon; French 
artillery at night, no response. 

22 French artillery from 4 P. M. 

23 Day calm ; i shell In evening. 

24 Taube dropped bomb 11 A. M.; French artil- 

lery 4 to 5 P. M. 

25 Violent cannonade and some bombs on ex- 

tremities In afternoon. 

26 Bombardment 9 to 1 1 :30 A. M., 40 shells, 2 

killed, I wounded; renewed 2 to 4 P. M., 6 
shells. 

27 Bombardment 1 1 A. M., 8 shells; renewed 3 to 

5 P. M., 7 shells. 

28 Bombardment 8 A. M., 12 shells; renewed 

12:30 to 2:30 P. M., 32 shells; Taube 2 
P. M.; renewed 4 to 5 P. M., 50 shells, 3 
wounded. 

29 10 shells on suburbs In morning; French artil- 

lery 6 P. M. 




From "La Cathcdralc de Reims," Libraire Centrale des Beaux-Arts, Pans. 
THE WEST PORTALS 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 6^ 



March, 1916 

1 Bombardment 9 A. M. to 2 P. M., 120 shells, 

10 killed; renewed 8 to 9 P. M. 

2 Bombardment 10 A. M. to 2 P. M., 5 killed, 

4 wounded; renewed 7 to 9:30 P. M., 50 
shells, 2 wounded. 

3 French artillery 5 A. M.; bombardment 1 145 

P. M.; renewed 6 to 8 P. M., 50 shells, i 
killed, 2 wounded. 

4 Bombardment 5 A. M. ; renewed on faubourgs 

5 130 P. M. 

5 Bombardment 1 1 A. M.; renewed 3 P. M. 

6 Aerial bomb 9 A. M.; some shells 11 A. M.; 

French artillery in afternoon. 

7 Aerial activity; no shells on Reims. 

8 Aerial activity and bombs, 2 wounded. 

9 Aerial activity and bombs; artillery on front 

in evening. 

10 Aerial activity. 

11 Aerial activity; French artillery 9 A. M., 

feeble response. 

12 Taube 9 A. M. ; bombardment 5 to 6 P. M., 50 

shells, several wounded. 

13 Aerial activity from 8 A. M.; bombardment 

4 P.M. 

14 Aerial combat 10 A. M.; no shells on Reims. 

15 Calm; some shells on faubourgs. 



66 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

i6 Aerial shell 5:15 A. M.; bombardment in 
morning, 15 shells; French artillery in eve- 
ning. 

17 Bombardment 1 130 to 3 130 P. M.; renewed 4 

to 6 130 P. M., 200 shells, some wounded. 

18 Artillery 2:30 and 5 A. M.; Taube 7 A. M.; 

aerial activity in morning; artillery duel in 
afternoon; cannonade 11 P. M. 

19 Artillery and aerial activity. 

20 Calm. 

21 Calm; short artillery action in morning. 

22 Feeble cannonade in morning; no shells on 

Reims. 

23 Calm; French artillery in sector 1 1 to 12 P. M. 

24 Calm. 

25 2 aerial bombs 4 P. M. 

26 Calm. 

27 Heavy bombardment 9 to 1 1 A. M., 300 shells, 

25 killed and wounded; renewed 2 P. M. 

28 Calm. 

29 Artillery on front from i A. M. to daybreak; 

day calm in Reims. 

30 Aeros ; no shells. 

3 1 Aeros ; Taubes and some shells. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 67 



April, 1916 

1 Some shells on faubourgs. 

2 Violent bombardment 9 A. M. to 5 130 P. M., 

1500 shells, 5 killed, 41 wounded. 

3 Calm. 

4 Bombardment 5 to 6 P. M., 150 shells. 

5 Some shells ; artillery at night. 

6 Day calm ; French artillery at night. 

7 Day calm; artillery at night, 15 shells. 

8 French artillery in morning; i shell 8 P. M. 

9 French artillery; Taubes morning and after- 

noon ; cannonade at night. 

10 Taubes 9 A. M.; bombardment 1 1 A. M., 50 

shells, I killed; renewed 4 to 4:30 P. M., 9 
shells; again 10 to 11 130 P. M., 26 shells. 

1 1 Taube 6 A. M.; artillery afternoon and night. 

12 Bombardment 10 A. M., 2 victims; renewed 3 

P. M.; artillery afternoon and night. 

13 Some shells 3 to 4 P. M.; artillery at night. 

14 Some shells 2 P. M.; artillery day and night. 

15 Bombardment 10 to 11 140 A. M.; renewed 2 

to 5 130 P. M. ; again 8 130 P. M. 

16 Taubes 6 130 and 9 A. M. ; bomxbardment 1 1 to 

1 1 130 A. M. ; renewed 5 -.30 P. M. 

17 Bombardment in afternoon. 

1 8 No shells on Reims. 

19 Calm. 



68 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

20 Some shells 6:30 A. M.; aerial combat 5:30 

P.M. 

21 Bombardment 11 A. M., 12 shells. 

22 Bombardment 3 P. M., 2 shells, i wounded; 

renewed 4:15 P. M., 4 shells; again 5 to 6 
P. M. 

23 Easter Day. No shells. 

24 Taubes in morning; bombardment 2 130 to 7 130 

P. M., 200 shells. 4 killed, 19 wounded. 

25 Calm. 

26 Bombardment 10 130 to 1 1 130 A. M., 30 shells. 

27 Anti-aerial fire in afternoon; 5 or 6 shells in 

evening ; French artillery at night. 

28 Bombardment 7 to 11 A. M., 16 shells; re- 

newed 1 130 to 3 130 P. M., 28 shells; again 
5 to 6 P. M., 15 shells; again 9 P. M., 9 
shells. 

29 A few shells. 

30 Bombardment 3 to 5 P. M., 8 shells; renewed 

5 :i5 to 6 P. M., 1 1 shells; again 9 130 P. M., 
7 shells, 2 victims. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 69 



May, 1916 

1 Taube dropped bomb 5:30 A. M.; bombard- 

ment II :45 A. M., 6 shells; renewed 6 to 8 
P. M., 50 shells. 

2 Day calm; bombardment to south and north- 

west 8 130 P. M., 9 shells. 

3 Taube 6 A. M. ; no shells on Reims; artillery at 

night. 

4 Taube 7 130 A. M. and 1 1 130 A. M. ; bombard- 

ment 7 to 8 P. M., 37 shells, i wounded. 

5 Bombardment 10 to 11 A. M., 15 shells; 

renewed 4:30 P. M., 3 shells. 

6 Bombardment 8 to 10 A. M., 2 wounded; re- 

newed 2 .-30 to 2 145 P. M., 4 shells; artillery 
at night. 

7 Bombardment 7 to 8 A. M., 2 shells; renewed 

9 to 10 A. M., 23 shells. 

8 Bombardment 8 A. M. ; renewed 3 to 6 P. M. ; 

artillery at night. 

9 Bombardment 7:30 A. M., 5 shells; renewed 

from 9 A. M. to night, 300 shells; French 
artillery at night. 

10 Bombardment 7 to 9 P. M., more than 100 

shells, 4 wounded; renewed 10 P. M. 

11 Bombardment 8 to 10 A. M.; renewed i to 2 

P. M., 30 shells, 3 wounded. 



yo THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

12 1 shell in morning; bombardment of observa- 

tion balloon, 5 to 6 P. M., 25 shells. 

13 I shell 9 A. M. 

14 Complete calm. 

15 Short bombardment 3 P. M.; some shells at 

night. 

16 Taube early morning; bombardment 1 1 A. M. 

to noon, 100 shells; renewed 5 to 7 P. M., 4 
killed, 10 wounded. 

17 Aerial combat 8 A. M. ; bombardment 12 130 to 

2:30 P. M., 120 shells, 8 killed, 10 
wounded; renewed 4 to 6 P. M. 

18 Bombardment 2 A. M.; 2 Taube bombs; re- 

newed 9 to II A. M., more than 200 shells; 
French artillery at night. 

19 Bombardment in afternoon, 50 shells. 

20 Bombardment 2:15 to 2:30 P. M., 15 shells, 

1 killed; renewed at midnight, 20 shells. 

21 Bombardment 12:30 A. M., i shell; renewed 

II A. M. to noon, 20 shells; again 2 to 3 
P. M., 32 shells; again 5 P. M., 6 shells. 

22 Bombardment 3 A. M.; Taube 6 A. M.; 

bombardment renewed 2 to 3 P. M., 32 
shells; again 5:30 P. M., 6 shells; artillery 
at night. 

23 Day calm ; bombardment 9 130 P. M., 1 2 shells, 

2 killed. 

24 Bombardment 1:30 to 5 P. M., i killed, 11 

wounded. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 7 I 

25 Intermittent bombardment from 1 130 P. M. 

26 Bombardment In afternoon. 

27 Some shells In afternoon. 

28 Bombardment 9 A. M. ; renewed 2 P. M. 

29 Artillery duel; some shells in morning. 

30 Calm. 

31 Day calm; some shells 8 130 and 11 130 P. M. 



72 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



June, 1916 

1 Taube at dawn ; bombardment 6 :30 to 9 

A. M., 5 shells; renewed 10 to 11 A. M., 8 
shells; again 3:30 to 4 P. M., 15 shells 
again 10 P. M., 3 shells, i wounded. 

2 Bombardment 6 to 7 130 A. M., 25 shells 

renewed 11 A. M.; again 3 P. M. 

3 Bombardment 6 to 7 P. M., 100 shells 

renewed 9 to 10 P. M., 11 shells. 

4 Bombardment 8 130 to 9 P. M. 

5 Bombardment 9:30 A. M., 7 shells; renewed 

3 P. M., 5 shells. 

6 Bombardment 9 to 10 A. M., 20 shells; 

renewed 5 P. M., 3 shells. 

7 Bombardment 9 to 10 A. M., 12 shells; re- 

newed at noon, 3 shells; again 8 P. M., 4 
shells on vacant land. 

8 I shell 9 A. M.; i shell 5 P. M. 

9 Bombardment 8 to 9 A. M. ; renewed in after- 

noon, 8 shells; again 10 P. M. 

10 Bombardment 7:30 to 9 A. M., 6 shells. 

1 1 Bombardment 9 to 10 A. M. 

12 Calm. 

13 I shell; artillery on front. 

14 Some shells in afternoon. 

15 Calm. 

16 Calm. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 73 

17 Taube 5 A. M.; bombardment 8:43 to 11 

A. M., 7 shells; renewed i to 1 130 P. M., 3 
shells; French artillery 4 P. M. 

18 No shells. 

19 Bombardment 9 to 1 1 A. M. on faubourgs; 

aerial combat in afternoon, 4 shells fell into 
Reims. 

20 Aerial fire 6:30 P. M.; artillery on front at 

night. 

21 Anti-aerial shell fell back 6:15 A. M. 

22 Artillery on front; bombardment 3 to 4 P. M., 

24 shells; aerial shell fell back 6:30 P. M. 

23 Bombardment 9:30 to 10 P. M., 41 shells. 

24 Bombardment 3 130 to 5 P. M,, 50 shells. 

25 French artillery 4 P. M., no response. 

26 Calm. 

27 French artillery, no response. 

28 Bombardment 2 to 2:30 P. M., 5 shells; 

French artillery at night. 

29 Bombardment 9 130 to 11:15 A- M., 45 shells; 

renewed 12 to 1:30 P. M., 18 shells, i 
killed; again 3 130 to 5 P. M., 34 shells. 

30 Bombardment 9:30 to 10 A. M., 10 shells; 

renewed 2:20 to 2:45 P. M., 15 shells, i 
killed, 2 wounded; again 4 to 5 P. M., 6 
shells, 3 killed, 2 wounded; French artillery 
at night. 



74 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



July, 1916 

1 Taubes in morning; bombardment 5 to 6 P. M., 

1 2 shells ; artillery at night. 

2 Bombardment 5 to 8 P. M., 356 shells. 

3 3 Taube bombs 4:30 A. M.; somewhat 

tranquil. 

4 Nothing to note. 

5 Some shells 4:30 P. M.; artillery on front. 

6 Taube 6 130 A.M. 

7 Complete calm. 

8 Complete calm. 

9 Complete calm. 

10 Taube 10 A. M.; i bomb 2 P. M.; French 

artillery at night. 

11 Bombardment 10 A. M., 4 shells; renewed 

5 :45 to 7 P. M., 96 shells ; again 9 P. M., 50 
shells, 5 killed, 6 wounded; French artillery 
at night. 

1 2 Some German prisoners passed through Reims. 

13 Calm. 

14 Calm. 

15 Calm. 

16 Calm; French fire on German trenches in after- 

noon, no response. 

17 Calm. 

1 8 Calm ; artillery duel at night. 
192 Taube bombs on fields. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 75 

20 French aeros over German lines 3 A. M. 

21 Artillery duel 4 P. M. 

22 Taube 6 A. M.; French artillery 10 P. M. 

23 Calm. 

24 Taube 4:30 A. M. 

25 Taube 6 P. M.; French artillery at night, no 

response. 

26 Day calm; Taube 5 P. M.; French artillery 

and some shells at night. 

27 Taube 6 A. M.; bombardment 3 130 P. M., 13 

shells. 

28 Bombardment 5 P. M., 3 shells; 20 shells later. 

29 Some artillery In afternoon; French aeros over 

German lines. 

30 Calm. 

31 I shell 6 A. M. ; Taube 8 A. M. 



76 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



August, 1916 

1 Bombardment 5 to 6 A. M., 55 shells; renewed 

6 to 7 P. M., 54 shells; French artillery 10 
P. M. to I A. M. 

2 French artillery to i A. M.; shells early morn- 

ing; artillery on front 10 P. M. to 2 A. M. 

3 Artillery on front to 2 A. M.; bombardment 

4:30 to 5:15 P. M., 5 shells; i shell at 
night. 

4 Bombardment 4:30 to 5:30 P. M., 3 shells; 

artillery at night. 

5 Bombardment i to 2 P. M., 3 shells; renewed 

5 to 6:30 P. M., 34 shells; again 10 P. M. 

6 Taube early; intermittent bombardment; more 

serious 4:15 to 7 P. M.; French artillery 
II :i5 P. M., no response. 

7 Day calm; bombardment 7:30 to 8 P. M., 3 

shells ; French artillery at night. 

8 Some shells 6 P. M. 

9 Taube early; bombardment 11 to 1 1 130 A. M., 

5 shells; renewed 6 P. M. 

10 Bombardment 5:30 P. M., 2 shells; renewed 

6:15 P. M., 2 shells; again 8 to 9 P. M., 50 
shells. 

1 1 Day calm ; French artillery at end of afternoon. 

12 Bombardment 5:30 P. M., 14 shells, i killed, 

2 wounded; renewed 7 to 8 P. M., 25 shells; 
French artillery at night, no response. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 77 

13 7 Taubes dropped 19 bombs, 7 P. M., 21 vic- 

tims. Civil Hospital burned; St. Remi 
menaced; 21 shells from bombardment. 

14 Calm; French artillery at night. 

15 4 shells in evacuated zone; bombardment 10 to 

11:30 P. M. 

16 Calm. 

17 Day calm; 8 shells at night. 

18 Calm; Taube 9 P. M. 

19 Calm. 

20 Calm. 

21 Calm. 

22 Calm. 

23 Bombardment 10:45 to 1 1 115 A. M., 20 shells. 

24 Taube 8 A. M.; bombardment 12:15 P. M.; 

aerial combat i P. M., 2 bombs dropped. 

25 Bombardment 11 to 11:15 A. M., shells on 

faubourgs. 

26 Bombardment 5 to 5 :i 5 P. M., 7 shells; again 

9 P. M., 4 shells. 

27 Bombardment 8 :30 A. M., 12 shells; renewed 

1 1 :30 A. M. to I :i5 P. M., 26 shells. 

28 Bombardment 10 to 10:15 A. M., 12 shells, i 

wounded; renewed 5 to 6:30 P. M., 28 
shells. 

29 Bombardment 8 to 9:30 A. M., 13 shells, 2 

wounded. 

30 Calm. 

31 Bombardment 10 A. M. to noon, 36 shells. 



78 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



September, 1916 

1 Calm. 

2 Calm; 2 Taubes 5 P. M. 

3 Taube ; bombardment 8 130 to 10 130 A. M., 13 

shells; renewed 5 to 7 P. M. 

4 Calm. 

5 Bombardment 10:30 A. M., 3 shells. 

6 No shells. 

7 No shells. 

8 No shells. 

9 Some shells in morning, i wounded; Taube 

dropped 2 bombs 6 P. M., i killed, i 
wounded; artillery to south at night. 

10 Calm. 

1 1 French artillery in morning; no shells. 

12 Calm. 

13 Calm. 

14 Calm. 

15 20 Taube bombs 12:15 P. M., 2 killed, i 

wounded; Intermittent French artillery at 
night. 

16 Calm. 

17 Taubes in morning; no shells; French artillery 

to south In afternoon; Taube 6 P. M. 

18 Calm. 

19 Anniversary of cathedral fire In 19 14; calm; 

Taube in afternoon; French artillery at 
night. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 79 

20 Calm. 

21 French artillery 1 1 A. M., no response. 

22 Bombardment 9:30 A. M. to noon, 32 shells, 

I killed, 6 wounded. 

23 Taube 8 A. M. ; bombardment 9 130 to 1 1 

A. M., 33 shells. 

24 Taube 8 A. M.; bombardment 11 A. M., 32 

shells; renewed 1:30 P. M., 10 shells on 
observation balloon in rear of Reims. 

25 German fire on aeros; bombardment 1 130 to 4 

P. M., 21 shells. 

26 Bombardment 3 :30 to 5 P. M. ; renewed 5 130 

to 6 130 P. M. ; 19 shells in all. 

27 Bombardment 1:30 to 3:30 P. M., 31 shells. 

28 Bombardment 10:30 A. M.; no shells on 

Reims. 

29 Very calm ; no cannon sounds In sector. 

30 Calm. 



8o THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



October, 1916 

1 Bombardment i P. M., 3 shells; renewed i :i5 

P. M., 13 shells. 

2 Calm; some cannonade In morning. 

3 Nothing to note. 

4 Taube 6 A. M. ; bombardment 10 to 1 1 A. M., 

9 shells ; renewed 4 to 5 145 P. M., 40 shells. 

5 Bombardment 12 to 12:30 P. M., 7 shells; 

renewed 4 P. M., Taube shrapnel, i 
wounded. 

6 Taube 10 A.M. 

7 Nothing to note. 

8 Calm. 

9 Calm. 

10 Taube In morning; bombardment 3:30 to 6 

P. M., 28 shells. 
114 Taubes 6 to 11 A. M., dropped 4 shells; 

artillery 5 P. M. 

12 Calm. 

13 Bombardment 8 A. M., 4 shells. 

14 Distant bombardment 1 1 A. M., some shells. 

15 Calm. 

16 Bombardment 2 P. M. 

17 Bombardment 8 A. M., 10 shells. 

18 No shells; French artillery 4 P. M. 

19 Calm. 

20 Bombardment 10 to 11 A. M., 18 shells; 

renewed 3 to 5 P. M., 13 shells. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



21 Bombardment 9 130 to 1 1 130 A. M., 19 shells; 

8 shells In afternoon. 

22 Fire on Taubes. 

23 Fire on Taubes 7 A. M.; some shells in 

the day. 

24 Fire on Taubes. 

25 Bombardment 10:30 A. M., 11 shells; renewed 

I .-30 to 5 P. M., 400 to 500 shells; French 
artillery from 9 P. M. 

26 Relatively calm. 

27 Heavy bombardment 6:45 A. M. to 5 P. M., 

about 1200 shells. 

28 Bombardment 3 to 5 P. M., 13 shells. 

29 Calm. 

30 French artillery in morning, no response. 

3 1 Some shells in morning. 



82 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



November, 1916 

1 Bombardment 2:45 to 3:45 P. M., 7 shells; 

renewed 4 to 5 P. M., 12 shells. 

2 Calm. 

3 Morning calm; anti-aerial fire in afternoon. 

4 French artillery 8 A. M. ; bombardment 9 145 

to II A. M., 28 shells; violently renewed 
2 to 4 :30 P. M., 600 shells. 

5 Artillery in sector. 

6 Bombardment 3 :io to 5 :30 P. M., 100 shells. 

7 Bombardment 6:30 to 7:30 A. M., 36 shells; 

renewed 11 to 11 130 A. M., 67 shells. 

8 Bombardment 7 130 P. M., 6 shells. 

9 Nothing to note. 

10 Aviation 10 A. M.; French artillery in after- 

noon. 

1 1 Taube 1 1 A. M. ; French artillery in afternoon. 

12 Nothing to note. 

13 Nothing to note. 

14 Bombardment 11 to 11:30 A. M., 12 shells; 

renewed 12 130 to i P. M., 12 shells; French 
artillery 8 130 to 10 P. M. 

15 Taube; bombardment 2 to 4 P. M., 14 shells; 

renewed 5 to 6 130 P. M., 12 shells; again 7 
P.M. 

16 Taube; light bombardment 1 1 A, M.; renewed 

5 to 6:15 P. M., 12 shells. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 83 

17 Bombardment 3 P. M., 12 shells. 

18 Calm. 

19 Bombardment 3 :30 to 4 P. M., 7 shells. 

20 Nothing to note. 

21 Nothing to note. 

22 Nothing to note. 

23 Nothing to note. 

24 Aerial activity. 

25 Nothing to note. 

26 Nothing to note. 

27 Nothing to note. 

28 Nothing to note. 

29 Bombardment of fields near Reims 10 A. M. 

30 Short artillery duel in morning. 



84 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



December, 1916 

1 Calm. 

2 4 shells in morning. 

3 Nothing to note. 

4 Nothing to note. 

5 Nothing to note. 

6 Calm. 

7 Complete calm. 

8 Complete calm. 

9 Some shells morning and afternoon. 

10 Bombardment i to 2 P. M., 15 shells. 

1 1 Bombardment morning and afternoon. 

12 Complete calm. 

13 Bombardment 9 to 9:45 A. M.; renewed i to 

2 P. M.; 9 shells. 

14 Bombardment r to 4 P. M., 32 shells. 

15 Bombardment 10 A. M. to 12:30 P. M., 36 

shells. 

16 Nothing to note. 

17 Nothing to note. 



18 


Bombardment 


at intervals. 












19 


Bombardment 
39 shells. 


In afternoon 


to 


II 


:30 


P. 


M., 


20 


Some shells in 


afternoon. 












21 


Calm. 














22 


Calm. 














23 


Calm. 















THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 85 

24 Cannonade In afternoon. 

25 Christmas Day; nothing to note. 

26 Artillery In afternoon. 

27 Bombardment 8 130 to 1 1 130 A. M., 50 shells; 

renewed 5 130 to 8 P. M., 6 shells. 

28 Calm. 

29 Calm. 

30 Violent cannonade In sector all day and greater 

part of night ; no shells on Reims. 

3 1 No shells. 



1917 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 89 



January, 1917 

1 Day calm ; i shell at night. 

2 Bombardment i to 3 P. M., 19 shells. 

3 Bombardment 1 1 A. M., 2 shells; artillery 

at night. 

4 Some shells. 

5 Some shells. 

6 Calm. 

7 Calm. 

8 Nothing to note. 

9 Bombardment 5 to 5 130 P. M., 16 shells. 

10 Almost complete silence. 

1 1 Nothing to note. 

12 Calm. 

13 Calm. 

14 Bombardment 12:15 to i P. M., 12 shells; 

heavy cannonade on front to next morning. 

15 Intermittent artillery in day; more active at 

night. 

16 Some artillery; continued in night. 

17 Nothing to note. 

18 Nothing to note. 

19 Nothing to note. 

20 Nothing to note. 

21 Bombardment 12:30 to 3 P. M., 15 shells; 

renewed 3 to 4 P. M., 24 shells. 

22 Bombardment 5 :30 to 6 P. M., 8 shells. 



90 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

23 Bombardment 7 A. M., i shell; renewed 10:30 

to 1 1 :45 A. M., 10 shells ; again 4 130 P. M., 

1 shell; again 5 to 6:30 P. M., 10 shells. 

24 Bombardment 9 A. M. to noon, 26 shells; 

renewed 12:30 to 2 P. M., 19 shells; again 

2 to 4:30 P. M., 13 shells; again 7 to 8 
P. M., 14 shells. 

25 Various bombardments in day; 10 shells, 5 to 6 

P. M. 

26 Relatively calm; some shells. 

27 Kaiser's birthday. Bombardment 1 1 A. M. to 

5 P. M., 77 shells; renewed 9 P. M. 

28 Bombardment 12 to 5 P. M., 24 shells; 

renewed 9 to 9 :45 P. M., 10 shells. 

29 Bombardment 10:30 A. M. to 12:30 P. M., 4 

shells; renewed 3 to 4 P. M., 4 shells; again 
10 P. M. to 3 A. M. 

30 Bombardment continued to 3 A. M.; inter- 

mittent bombardment in afternoon. 

31 Bombardment 4 to 6 P. M., 82 shells. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 9 I 



February, 1917 

1 Nothing to note. 

2 Absolute calm. 

3 Nothing to note. 

4 Nothing to note. 

5 Some shells at end of day. 

6 Intermittent bombardment all day; i6 shells 

4:30 to 5 130 P. M. 

7 Bombardment 10 to 11 A. M., 14 shells; 

renewed 3 to 5 P. M., 12 shells. 

8 Bombardment 4 P. M., 13 shells; renewed 8 to 

8:30 P.M., 16 shells. 

9 Bombardment 9:30 A. M.; renewed i to 5 

P. M., 57 shells. 

10 Nothing to note. 

11 Bombardment 4:30 to 5 P. M., 2 shells. 

12 Bombardment 3:15 to 3:45 P. M., 5 shells. 

13 Bombardment 11:30 A. M. to 3:30 A. M., 

117 shells. 

14 Bombardment continued to 3:30 A. M.; day 

calm; renewed 9:30 P. M. 

15 Bombardment 10 A. M. to noon, 8 shells; re- 

newed 12 to 3 P. M., 8 shells; again 5 to 6 
P. M., 64 shells; again 8 P. M., i shell. 

16 Nothing to note. 

17 Nothing to note. 

1 8 Some shells In early morning. 



92 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

19 Calm. 

20 Calm. 

21 Calm. 

22 I shell In afternoon. 

23 Nothing to note. 

24 Bombardment 7:30 to 10 P. M., 13 shells; 

renewed 10:30 P. M. to 2 A. M., 25 shells. 

25 Bombardment continued to 2 A. M.; renewed 

at noon, 3 or 4 shells ; again 9 P. M., 3 shells. 

26 Bombardment 5:30 P. M., 3 shells; renewed 

9 130 P. M. to 5 :30 A. M., 20 shells. 

27 Bombardment continued to 5:30 A. M.; re- 

newed 9 A. M., 5 shells; distant artillery 
afternoon and night. 

28 Bombardment 3 A. M., 5 shells; renewed 5 130 

P. M., 5 shells; 3 shells In night. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 93 



March, 1917 

1 Bombardment 1 130 to 4:30 P. M., 20 shells. 

2 Relatively calm; some distant shells. 

3 Bombardment 3 .-30 P. M., 2 shells and distant 

projectiles. 

4 Bombardment 5 to 6:30 P. M., 18 shells. 

5 Bombardment 4:30 to 6 A. M., 6 shells; 

renewed 11 130 A. M., i shell. 

6 Bombardment 1 1 130 A. M., 4 shells; renewed 

3:45 P. M., I shell; again 8:30 P. M., i 
shell. 

7 Day relatively calm ; some shells at night. 

8 Distant shells 12:30 P. M. 

9 Distant artillery. 

10 Some distant shells at night. 

1 1 Bombardment 1 1 130 A. M., 2 shells; renewed 

2:30 P. M., 2 shells; distant artillery at 
night. 

12 Bombardment 10:30 to 11:30 A. M., 15 

shells; agitated night. 

13 Bombardment i to 7:30 A. M., 200 shells; 

renewed 5 to 6 P. M., 20 shells. 

14 Bombardment 9 to 10 A. M., 12 shells; re- 

newed I :i5 to 2 P. M., 19 shells; again 6 
P. M., 5 shells. 

1 5 Bombardment 1 2 to 3 P. M. ; renewed 5 :30 to 

7 P. M., 50 shells. 



94 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

1 6 Bombardment In morning; renewed i P. M., 

12 shells; again 4:30 P. M., 20 shells; again 
6 P. M., 12 shells. 

17 Bombardment 4:30 to 5 130 A. M., 541 shells; 

renewed i P. M., 3 shells; agitated night. 

18 Bombardment 8:10 A. M., 12 shells; renewed 

10:30 A. M., 9 shells; occasional shells In 
afternoon and evening. 

19 Bombardment 9 to 10 A. M., 180 shells; 

renewed 6 P. M., 27 shells. 

20 Distant shells all morning; bombardment 2:10 

to 5:45 P. M., 41 shells; renewed 7 P. M. 
to 5 A. M., 120 shells. 

21 Bombardment continued to 5 A. M.; renewed 

10 to II A. M., 18 shells; renewed 2:30 
P. M., 4 shells. 

22 Bombardment 12:30 P. M., 4 shells; boister- 

ous night. 

23 Bombardment 10 A. M. to 2 P. M., 82 shells 

boisterous night. 

24 Bombardment 9 A. M. to noon, 234 shells 

12 shells In afternoon. 

25 Bombardment 8 A. M. to 2 P. M., 453 shells 

renewed 2:30 P. M., 26 shells. 

26 Bombardment 1:30 A. M., 39 shells; some 

shells In afternoon. 

27 Bombardment 3 to 4 A. M. ; renewed 8 A. M. 

to noon and at night. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 95 

28 Bombardment 10 A. M. to noon, 401 shells; 

renewed 2 to 5:30 P. M., 181 shells. 

29 Bombardment 1:45 to 2 P. M., 9 shells; re- 

newed 4:45 to 5:15 P. M., 4 shells; again 
5:40 P. M., 2 shells; again 8 to 9 P. M., 
37 shells. 

30 Bombardment 12 130 A. M., 2 shells; renewed 

2 A. M., 8 shells; again 9 A. M. to 1:50 
P. M., s^ shells; again 3 to 6 P. M., 160 
shells. 

31 Bombardment from midnight to 5:30 A. M., 

29 shells; renewed 8 130 to 10:30 A. M., 45 
shells; again 3 to 6 P. M., 32 shells; again 
7 to 7 .-30 P. M., 6 shells. 



96 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



April, 1917 

1 Bombardment 4 130 to 5 130 A. M., 684 shells ; 

renewed from 9 A. M., 2048 shells; total 
for the day, 2732 shells. 

2 Bombardment from 8 A. M., 2259 shells; 

some shells at night. 

3 Bombardment 9 A. M. to 8:30 P. M., 1744 

shells. 

4 Bombardment all day, particularly violent 4 130 

to 8 P. M., 2123 shells; some shells 9 P. M. 

5 Bombardment in morning, 10 shells; renewed 

in afternoon to 5 .-30 A. M., 795 shells. 

6 Bombardment continued to 5:30 A. M.; 

renewed 4 to 8 P. M., and again in night. 

7 Bombardment to 8 P. M., 8785 shells for April 

6 and 7. Grand Seminaire burned 4 P. M. 

8 Easter Day. Bombardment 2 :30 to 9 P. M., 

particularly violent 5 130 P. M. 

9 Bombardment from 4:30 A. M.; particularly 

violent 2 to 4 P. M. and at 7 P. M.; con- 
tinued during part of the night; evacuation 
of civil population ordered. 

10 Bombardment in afternoon; particularly vio- 

lent 4 to 9 P. M.; continued in night. 

1 1 Bombardment day and night. 

1 2 Bombardment day and night, particularly at 9 

P. M.; perhaps 7000 or 8000 shells. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 97 

13 Bombardment diminished 7 A. M.; renewed 

for the day, 10 A. M. 

14 Bombardment day and night, particularly 

from 5 P. M. to 5 A. M. 

15 Bombardment day and night; St. Andre 

burned 4:30 P. M.; 15 shells on the 
cathedral. 

16 Bombardment 2:30 to 5 P. M. 

17 Bombardment day and night. 

18 Bombardment 12:30 to 3 P. M.; French 

artillery from 4:30 P. M.; 80 fires in Reims 
from April 7 to April 18. 

19 Bombardment from midnight to 3 A. M.; 

renewed 10:30 A. M. to 7:30 P. M., 25 
shells on cathedral, north tower, vaults and 
transept Injured; renewed 10 P. M. to 5 
A. M., 600 shells. Cardinal Lugon issued 
protest against bombardment. 

20 Bombardment continued to 5 A. M.; renewed 

10 to II A. M., 50 shells; again 12 to 8 :30 
P. M., 300 shells, particularly violent 6 
P. M.; 2 shells on cathedral. 

21 Bombardment 3 to 6 A. M.; renewed 10:30 

A. M. ; again i P. M., Hotel de Ville gravely 
injured; again 2:30 P. M.; again 6 to 8 
P. M.; artillery at night. Cathedral injured, 
8 shells. 

22 Bombardment 9 A. M. to noon, 100 shells; 

renewed 2 to 6 P. M., 600 shells; cathedral 
injured, 3 shells ; agitated night. 



98 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

23 Bombardment 7 130 A. M. to 3 P. M. ; renewed 

6:30 P. M.; night calm; cathedral injured. 

24 Cannonade from 4 A. M.; bombardment from 

7 130 A. M., furious from 9 A. M. to 3 
P. M., cathedral injured; few night shells. 

25 Bombardment 9:30 A. M. to 7 P. M.; 

disturbed night. 

26 Bombardment i A. M.; renewed 7:30 A. M. 

to 4 P. M. ; again 7 P. M. ; night ralm. 

27 Bombardment from 7:30 A. M. 

28 Bombardment continued, particularly violent 

12 to 3 P. M. and 7 to 8:20 P. M.; St. 
Thomas and St. Andre injured. 

29 Bombardment all day. 

30 Bombardment continued; perhaps 1200 shells. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 99 



May, 1917 

1 Bombardment continued, 1200 shells. 

2 Bombardment violently continued, 600 shells. 

3 Bombardment continued day and most of 

night; Hotel de Ville took fire 2 P. M.; 
library lost. 

4 Bombardment continued day and night ; Hotel 

de Ville still burning. 
^ Bombardment continued; furious at night. 

6 Bombardment continued day and night. 

7 Bombardment continued; night less agitated. 

8 Bombardment from 9 A. M.; centre of Reims 

violently bombarded 11:30 A. M.; some 
shells in afternoon; renewed 10 to 11 P. M. 

9 Bombardment 9 A. M.; renewed 10 P. M.; 

perhaps 900 shells. 

10 Bombardment from 10 A. M.; redoubled i to 

7 130 P. M. ; renewed 9 P. M. for the night. 

11 Bombardment continued to 11:30 A. M.; 

renewed at noon ; considerably diminished 2 
P. M.; renewed 4:30 P. M. 

12 Bombardment continued day and night. 

1 3 Bombardment continued day and night ; 1 5 ,000 

shells, estimated, since May 11. 

14 Bombardment 9 A. M. to 2 P. M. ; renewed In 

night. 

15 Bombardment continued afternoon and part 

of night, with less Intensity. 



lOO THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



1 6 Bombardment continued, less Intense. 

17 Bombardment continued. 

18 Bombardment 11:55 A. M.; renewed 2 to 3 

P. M.; continued In night; 500 shells In day. 

19 Bombardment continued; 3000 to 4000 shells 

estimated for day and night. 

20 Bombardment day and night, about 500 shells. 

21 Bombardment continued day and night, 1000 

shells. 

22 Bombardment continued with less intensity, 

about 200 shells. 

23 Bombardment continued day and night, 500 

shells. 

24 Morning calm; bombardment In afternoon, 

200 shells. 

25 Bombardment continued; 500 shells. 

26 Relatively calm; bombardment 2 P. M., 200 

shells. 

27 Bombardment from 5 A. M., more than 1000 

shells; asphyxiating shells 6 to 8 A. M.; 
night relatively calm. 

28 Bombardment from 6 A. M.; perhaps 2000 

shells. 

29 Bombardment from 4 A. M., day and night. 

30 Bombardment continued in day, 300 shells; 

night calm. 

31 I shell I A. M.; bombardment from 6 A. M., 

day and night, 200 shells. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS Id 



June, 1917 

1 Taube dropped 2 bombs 12:30 A. M.; bom- 

bardment continued, 500 shells; night calm. 

2 Bombardment from 7 A. M., 500 shells. 

3 Bombardment from 6:30 A. M., day and 

night, more than 1000 shells. 

4 Bombardment from 7 A. M., 300 shells. 

5 Bombardment from 7 A. M., 200 shells. 

6 Bombardment from 6:30 A.M., 1500 shells; 

St. Benoit injured. 

7 Bombardment from 5:30 A. M., 200 shells; 

night calm. 

8 Bombardment continued, 400 shells. 

9 Bombardment day and night, 500 shells. 

10 Bombardment from 4 P. M. 

11 Bombardment afternoon and night, 500 to 

600 shells. 

12 Bombardment from 6 A. M., 1200 shells. 

13 Bombardment from 5 A. M., 400 to 500 

shells. 

14 Bombardment from 6 A. M., 500 shells. 

15 Bombardment from 5 A. M. 

16 Bombardment from 5 A. M.; violent 9 

A. M. to 2 P. M., 500 shells; continued at 
night; 1500 shells in all. 

17 Bombardment from 7:30 A. M., day and 

night, 2500 shells. 



102 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

1 8 President Poincare visited Reims; gave decora- 

tion of Legion of Honour to Cardinal 
Lugon, Archbishop of Reims; MM. de 
Bruignac and Emile Charbonneaux, adjuncts 
to the Mayor of Reims ; Dr. Harman of the 
hospital service; M. Beauvais, director of 
the School of Commerce and Industry; M. 
Martin, secretary-in-chief to the Sous- 
Prefecture, and M. Paul Dramas, editor-in- 
chief of ^'L'Eclaireur de I'Est." Bombard- 
ment from 5 A. M. and at night, 500 to 600 
shells. 

19 Bombardment all day, 3000 shells. 

20 Bombardment from 6 A. M., day and night, 

500 to 600 shells. 

21 Morning calm; bombardment 4 to 7 P. M., 

450 shells; renewed at night. 

22 Bombardment most of the day; renewed 10 

P. M. to 4 A. M., 850 shells. 

23 Bombardment continued to 4 A. M.; renewed 

6 A. M., more than 1300 shells (800 from 
9 A. M. to I P. M. ; 205 from i to 3 P. M. ; 
255 from 3 to 7 P. M.; more than 50 at 
night). 

24 Bombardment continued, 717 shells. 

25 Bombardment continued; terrible in the after- 

noon and night, 2442 shells. 

26 Bombardment day and night, less intense, 617 

shells. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS IO3 

27 Bombardment continued day and night. 

28 Bombardment continued; 8 shells on the 

cathedral. 

29 Bombardment continued day and night, 772 

shells. 

30 Day relatively calm; Intense bombardment at 

night, 200 shells. 



I04 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



July, 1917 

1 Bombardment continued, 200 shells. 

2 Bombardment continued, more than 600 

shells. 

3 Bombardment continued, 1200 shells (120 

from 9 A. M. to i P. M.; 400 from 2 to 5 
P. M.; 20 from 7 to 8 P. M.; 600 from 9 
P. M. to 2 A. M.). 

4 Bombardment continued, 300 shells. 

5 Bombardment continued, 800 shells (100 

from 12 to 2 P. M.; 700 from 2 to 8:30 
P. M.; 3 in the night). 

6 Bombardment continued, 600 shells (350 

from 6 A. M. to 2 P. M.; 50 from 3 to 4 
P. M.; 200 after 4 P. M.). 

7 Bombardment continued, 350 shells (250 

from 4 to 9 A. M.; 15 from 9 to 10 A. M.; 
I at 6:45 P. M.; 100 from 11 P. M. to 
midnight). 

8 Bombardment continued; 12 shells at 9 

A. M.; 14 shells at 2 P. M. 

9 Bombardment continued; 20 shells 2 to 5 

A. M.; 90 at 8 A. M.; 25 from 9 A. M. to 
noon ; 40 from 2 to 3 P. M. ; 2 at 8 P. M. 

10 Bombardment continued; 20 shells 4 to 5 

P. M.; 60 at 8 P. M.; SS in the night. 

11 Bombardment continued; 61 shells 9 to 11 

A. M.; 12 at 7 P. M. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS IO5 

12 Bombardment continued, 1350 shells (30 from 

7 to 10 A. M.; 1260 from 8 to 10 P. M.; 
60 from 10 P. M. to 2 A. M.). 

13 Bombardment continued, 2000 shells (250 

from 7:30 to II A. M.; more than 300 in 
the afternoon; 900 from 5 to 10 P. M.; 
more than 500 in the night). 

14 Bombardment continued, 2500 to 3000 shells 

(1650 from 5 A. M. to i P. M.; 700 from 
2 to 10 P. M. ; 13 in the night) . 

15 Bombardment continued, 800 shells (50 from 

1 1 A. M. to noon ; 700 from 1 2 to i P. M. ; 
50 in the night). 

16 Bombardment continued, 2537 shells (50 at 

6 A. M.; 250 from 8 A. M. to i P. M.; 
1 23 1 from 2 to 7 P. M.; 30 from 8 to 10 
P. M.). 

17 Bombardment continued, but day relatively 

calm, 129 shells (4 at 11 A. M.; 125 at 7 
P. M.). 

18 Bombardment continued, 840 shells (160 at 

7 P. M.; 580 from 9 P. M. to 2 A. M.). 

19 Bombardment continued, 80 shells. 

20 Bombardment continued, 119 shells. 

21 Bombardment continued, more than 900 

shells (30 from 7 to 8 A. M.; 30 from 

8 :30 to 1 1 A. M. ; 760 from i to 3 P. M. ; 
100 from II P. M.). 

22 Bombardment continued, 828 shells (50 from 

8 to 9 A. M.; 122 from 9 to 10:30 A. M.; 
6 from 12 to 4 P. M.; 650 after 4 P. M.). 



Io6 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

23 Bombardment continued, 1340 shells (400 

from 8 A. M. to i P. M.; 650 from 2 to 4 
P. M.; 290 after 9 P. M.). 

24 Bombardment continued, 140 shells (40 at 

10 A. M. ; 65 at 3 P. M. ; 35 at 9 130 P. M.) . 

25 Bombardment continued, 420 shells (200 

from 6 to II A. M.; 220 at 9:30 P. M.). 

26 Bombardment continued to 3 A. M., 443 

shells; 286 shells in the day (6 at 6 P. M., 
280 at 10 P. M.). 

27 Bombardment continued, 1201 shells (160 

from 8 A. M. to noon; 120 from 4 to 5 
P.M.; 100 at 8 P.M.; 821 after 1 1 P.M.). 

28 Bombardment continued, 627 shells (200 

from 9 to 1 1 A. M. ; 100 from 7 to 8 P. M. ; 
327 after 10 P. M.). 

29 Bombardment continued, 513 shells (25 from 

9 to 10 130 A. M. ; 100 at 2 P. M. ; 50 from 

4 to 6 P. M.; 300 from 9 to 10 P. M.; 30 
in the night) . M. Martin, decorated by the 
President on June 18, killed by a shell at 
the temporary Sous-Prefecture near Reims. 

30 Bombardment continued, more than 1300 

shells (695 from 3 to 4 P. M.; 590 from 

5 :30 to 7 P. M. ; 20 from 9 to 10 P. M.) . 

31 Bombardment from 3 to 4 P. M., 20 shells. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS IO7 



August, 1917 

1 Bombardment continued. 

2 Bombardment continued, 35 shells in the day; 

405 after 9 P. M. 

3 No shells in the day, 13 shells between 10 and 

10:45 P- M. 

4 Bombardment continued, 51 shells (5 from 

I 145 to 2 130 P. M. ; 40 from 4 to 6 P. M. ; 
6 from 6:30 to 7 P. M.). 

5 Bombardment continued, 58 shells (40 from 

5 to 6 P. M. ; 1 1 from 6 to 7 P. M. ; 7 from 

9 to 10 P. M.). 

6 Bombardment continued, 26 shells (16 from 

12 to I P. M.; 10 from 4 to 5 P. M.). 

7 Bombardment continued. 

8 Bombardment continued, 141 shells (29 from 

10 to 1 1 A. M. ; 20 from 4 to 4 130 P. M. ; 
92 from 6 to 7 P. M.). 

9 Bombardment continued, 140 shells (50 from 

9 to II A. M.; 90 from 10 to 11 P.M .). 

10 Bombardment continued, 126 shells (6 from 

3 to 3:30 P. M.; 48 from 3:30 to 4:30 
P. M.; 14 from 6 to 7 P. M.; 58 from 11 
P. M. to midnight). 

11 Bombardment continued, 600 to 660 shells 

(60 from 3 to 5 A. M.; 50 from 9:30 to 
10:30 A. M.; more than 500 from 3 to 
9 P. M.). 



Io8 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

1 2 Bombardment continued, more than 400 shells 

(15 at 7:30 A. M.; 30 at 9 A. M.; 159 
at 5 P. M. ; 132 from 6 to 7 P. M. ; 79 in 
the night). 

13 Bombardment continued, 1,680 shells. 

14 Bombardment continued, 200 shells. 

15 Bombardment continued, 55 shells (27 from 

3 to 3:30 P. M.; 28 from 9 to 11 P. M.). 

16 Bombardment continued, 173 shells (25 from 

3:30 to 6 P. M.; 140 from 6 to 8 P. M.; 

8 from 8:45 to 9 P. M.). 

17 Bombardment continued, 378 shells (39 from 

6:30 to 8 :30 A. M.; 10 from 10 to 10:30 
A. M. ; 30 from 2 to 2 .-30 P. M. ; 299 from 
5 to II P. M.). 

18 Bombardment continued, 128 shells (108 

from 12 to 4 P. M.; 20 from 6 to 8 P. M.). 

19 Bombardment continued, 588 shells (392 

from midnight to 2 A. M.; 52 from 4 to 

9 A. M. ; 144 from 7 to 10 P. M.). 

20 Bombardment continued, 563 shells (28 from 

12:30 to 1:30 P. M.; 514 from 3 to 6 
P. M.; 20 from 9 P. M. to midnight). 

21 Bombardment continued, 150 shells (2 at 8 

A. M. ; 63 at 1 2 :30 P. M. ; 40 in the after- 
noon; 45 after 8:45 P. M.). 

22 Bombardment continued, 140 shells (30 from 

10 :30 to II :30 A. M. ; 100 from 1 2 :30 to 
2 P. M.; 10 at 5:30 P. M.). 

23 Bombardment continued, 103 shells (3 at 4 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS IO9 

A . M.; 15 at 10 A. M.; 50 from 3 to 4 
P. M.; 35 in the night). 

24 Bombardment continued, 30 shells, from 9 

P. M. to midnight. 

25 Bombardment continued, 153 shells (6 from 

4 to 5 A. M.; 52 from 4 to 10 P. M.; 95 
from 10 P. M. to 2 A. M.). 

26 Bombardment continued, 129 shells to 2 

A. M. ; 52 from 4 to 7 P. M. ; 77 from 
9:30 to II :i5 P. M. 

27 Bombardment continued, 144 shells (53 from 

12 to 2 P. M.; 91 from 4 to 5 P. M.). 

28 Bombardment continued, 126 shells (i at 

1 A. M.; 4 at 10:30 A. M.; 16 from 4 to 
6 P. M.; 92 from 7 to 8 P. M.; 13 at 
9 P. M.). 

29 Bombardment continued, 59 shells (28 at 5 

P. M.; 10 from 7 to 8 P. M.; 21 from 
10:30 to midnight). 

30 Bombardment continued, 83 shells (15 from 

2 to 3 A. M. ; 1 6 at i o :30 A. M. ; 12 from 
4 to 5 P. M.; 40 from 9 to 11 P. M.). 

31 Bombardment continued, 34 shells from 9 to 

II P. M. 



no THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 



September, 1917 

1 Bombardment continued, 107 shells (83 from 

I to 4 P. M.; 24 at 8:30 P. M.). 

2 Bombardment continued, 12 shells (2 at 6:30 

A. M.; 7 from 10 to 1 1 115 A. M,; 3 at 
6 P. M.). 

3 Third anniversary of the first bombardment 

of September 3, 19 14. Bombardment 
continued, 10 shells. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS III 



Postscript 

The present chronicle stops at the third anni- 
versary of the first bombardment. On September 
2, 19 14 the French army evacuated Reims. The 
bombardment actually began on September 3, 
19 14 by the dropping of two bombs by German 
aviators. It was an unexpected preface to the 
formal bombardment of the next day, when the 
Germans sent 176 shells into Reims, although 
actually in possession of the city. September 3, 
19 1 7 thus completes three full years of the bom- 
bardment, which has accomplished nothing save 
the ruin of the city and the destruction of its 
great cathedral. 

After a city has been besieged for three years ; 
after it has, for that time, been subjected to the 
agony of modern artillery warfare, it would seem 
quite time to review such details as are obtainable 
and survey the results achieved by the besiegers. 
The daily summary given in the foregoing pages 
shows exactly what the Germans have done and 
what they have accomplished. Day after day, 
particularly in 19 17, they have thrown innumer- 
able projectiles into Reims, and wrought the 
utmost damage they could. But the outstanding 
fact to the French is that the Germans are still 
bombarding Reims. The siege did not stop with 
the end of the third year, but it is still going on 



112 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

as these pages pass through the press. This is 
the triumph of Reims, that it is still French, bent 
and broken as it is, bowed as its vast church is 
with the great trials to which it has been subjected, 
the city and its cathedral are still French ! Before 
this ruined heap of stones — for Reims is scarce 
more than that, this may yield small comfort. Yet 
Reims is still France, knock the barbarian ever so 
fiercely. 

It is, perhaps ominous that while detailed fig- 
ures of the German missiles thrown in Reims 
have been published in the local newspapers rather 
freely, no word as to the destruction they may 
have accomplished has been uttered. The veil 
that covers Reims has not yet been lifted, nor can 
the full measure of her agony yet be reckoned. 



The Buildings of Reims 

THE CATHEDRAL OF NOTRE DAME 

THIS magnificent church was begun May 6, 
1 2 1 1 , the foundation stone being laid on that 
date on the site of an earlier edifice burned 
in 1 2 lo. The work was pushed so rapidly that the 
choir was completed and occupied September 7, 
1 24 1. The architect was Jean d'Orbais, to whom 
the initial conception is due, and who continued in 
charge to 1231. He was succeeded by Jean Le 
Loup ( 1 231-1247), who completed the choir and 
about 1240 undertook the fagade of the north 
transept. Gaucher de Reims (i 247-1 255) 
apparently began the west portals towards 1255, 
before the nave was completed. Bernard de 
Soissons (1255-1290) built the five west bays of 
the nave and the great west rose window. He was 
succeeded by Robert de Coucy, who died in 131 1, 
to whom is attributed the towers and the upper 
parts of the west front. The roof and upper parts 
of the cathedral were heavily damaged by fire in 
148 1, but repairs were speedily carried out. 
Restored several times in the nineteenth century, 
new restorations were in progress until the time of 
the first bombardment. 

The cathedral is a vast and splendid church, 

113 



114 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

with a nave of nine bays, transepts with aisles, and 
a rather short choir, surrounded with five chapels. 
There are no nave chapels. The decorations are 
of great magnificence, the external sculptures, 
especially those of the great west portals and the 
portals of the north transept, being most elaborate, 
and including some of the finest mediaeval sculp- 
tures in France. The interior is noted for the 
arcaded screen applied to the west end of the nave, 
surrounding the central doorway, consisting of a 
series of niches with statues. The foliated capitals 
of the nave piers also deserve mention. The glass 
of the windows, which suffered some unfortunate 
changes in the XVIII century, was of extraor- 
dinary beauty and interest, and ranked among the 
finest in France; most of it was destroyed in the 
bombardment. The cathedral had a superb collec- 
tion of tapestries, fortunately removed to Paris 
before the fire. The Treasury of the cathedral 
contained many rare and beautiful objects. 

Notwithstanding the numerous and heavy bom- 
bardments to which the cathedral has been sub- 
jected, the statue of Jeanne d'Arc by Paul Dubois, 
erected in the open space before the cathedral 
(Place du Parvis) in 1896, has not yet been 
touched by shells. The sculpture of the west front 
and of other exposed parts were heavily protected 
by sand bags immediately after the first bombard- 
ment. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS II5 

Palais Archleplscopal 

Immediately adjoins the south transept of the 
cathedral. Repaired and rebuilt many times. 
The oldest surviving portion Is the chapel called 
the "Chapelle Palatine," built In two stories, and 
attributed to Jean d'Orbals, the architect of the 
cathedral. It lost Its roof early In the bombard- 
ment. The great hall of the place, called the 
"Salle du Tau" was built at the end of the XV 
century; It contains a Gothic chlmneyplece dating 
from 1498. The apartments of the King consist- 
ing of five rooms, restored In 1825, were richly 
decorated. The palace was totally destroyed in 
the bombardment. 

THE ABBEY CHURCH OF ST. REMI 

One of the most beautiful Romanesque churches 
In northern France. The larger part of its 
structure dates from 1005 to 1049, having been 
built in three efforts within that time. The choir, 
with Its fine circlet of radiating chapels, was built 
between 1170 and 1190. The south transept front 
was rebuilt In 1506. The church has been many 
times repaired and its form and structure modified. 
The west front was so completely modified after 
1840 that only the two lower stages remain of the 
earlier building. The building is of vast size, and 



Il6 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

the Upper windows contained some remarkable 
glass. The tomb of St. Remi, the bishop of Reims 
who baptized Clovis, and which for centuries was 
a famous place of pilgrimage, was built in 1847, 
replacing an earlier monument destroyed in the 
Revolution, which, in its turn, replaced an earlier 
memorial. 

ST. JACQUES 

Of the church begun in 1190 and continued in 
the first years of the XII century, only fragmentary 
parts remain. It was partially reconstructed at the 
beginning of the XIV century. The choir and its 
chapels date from the XVI century. The lantern 
of the crossing replaced a Gothic spire removed in 
171 1, and the north transept and other parts were 
rebuilt in 1854. 

ST. MAURICE 

The choir, dating from 1627, is flanked by a 
beautiful flamboyant chapel built towards 1546. 
The nave is modern. 

MODERN CHURCHES 

St. Andre, built between 1857 and 1864. — •^^• 
Thomas, built in 1847. — ^^' Genevieve, built in 
1877. — St, Clotilde^ built in commemoration of 
the fourteenth centenary of the baptism of Clovis 
(496-1896). — St. Benoit and St. Jean Baptiste 
de la Salle are very recent churches. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS II7 

HOTEL DE VILLE 

The fine Hotel de Ville was commenced in 1627 
on the plans of a native architect, Jean Bonhomme. 
Begun with the left pavilion, the main facade, with 
the central pavilion and its tower, were completed 
by 1630. Left incomplete for nearly two 
centuries, the right paviHon was added in 1823- 
1825 by Serrurier, also an architect of Reims. 
Great additions and new buildings around a central 
court were added between 1875 ^^^ 1880. The 
relief of Louis XIII in the central pediment by 
Milhomme, placed in 18 18, occupies the place of 
an earlier one by Nicolas Jacques, placed in 1636 
and destroyed in the Revolution. The building con- 
tained the Museum and Public Library of Reims. 
Destroyed by fire. May 3, 19 17. The more valu- 
able books of the library, and the departmental 
archives had long before been placed in safety 
elsewhere. 

BUILDINGS OF NOTE 

The Place Roy ale, begun in 1757, is closed on 
one side by the Hotel des Fernies, a stately edifice 
with a central pediment supported by columns. In 
the centre of the Place is a statue of Louis XV 
by Cartellier, replacing an earlier statue by Pigalle, 
inaugurated in 1765 and destroyed in the Revolu- 
tion. Two allegorical groups by Pigalle for the 
pedestal survived. 



Il8 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

Maison des Musiciens, dating from the time of 
St. Louis, has a remarkable facade of large twin- 
windows alternating with trilobed niches contain- 
ing seated statues of musicians, larger than life 
size. Purchased by the city and by public sub- 
scription in 1905. 

Reims contains two other dwellings of the XIII 
century. A larger house in the Rue de Tambour, 
with a completely modernized interior, offers a 
facade of much interest, notwithstanding a repair 
in 1832. — Another house, in the Rue de Sedan, 
is a simple artisan's dwelling, retaining almost 
intact its gabled fagade of the end of the XIII 
century. — ^A Gothic building in the same street, 
transformed into a school in 1890, retains parts 
of the XVI and XVII centuries. — A house in the 
Rue de Vesle has a fagade of the XIV century, 
destroyed and burned by the bombardment of 
September 19, 19 14. — Fragments of the former 
priory of St. Bernard remain in the same street 
behind a modern store front. — A house in the 
Rue de la Grue is an interesting type of the end of 
the XVII century; ruined in bombardment of 
September 19, 19 14. 

Hotel de Bezannes, a large dwelling of the 
middle of the XV century, was probably built by 
Pierre de Bezannes, lieutenant of the inhabitants 
of Reims (1450-1467), whose arms remain on 
the buildings of the court. It became a school 
in 1901. 



I 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS II9 

Hotel he Vergeur, a large building retaining 
fragments of all styles since the end of the XIII 
century. — The Maison dii Long-Vetu, the birth- 
place of Colbert, the celebrated minister of Louis 
XIV, has a fagade of the middle ages, and another 
of the XVII century. — A hotel of the XV century, 
in the Rue de Pouilly, was the dwelling of an 
uncle of Colbert's. It is now the house of the 
Sceurs de I'Esperance; a part of the fagade was 
demolished in 1908. — Pavilion de Miiire, built by 
Nicolas Noel, lord of Muire, towards 1565, a 
remarkable structure in the style of Henri III. — 
Hotel de Montlaurent of the XVI century, has 
lost much of its interior interest, but the court 
offers some of the primitive decoration. — Hotel 
de la Salle, the birthplace of J. B. de la Salle, is 
one of the most beautiful types of domestic Renais- 
sance architecture in Reims; the fagade bears the 
date 1545. — Cour Mopinot has a portico of the 
XVI century. — Hotel Thiret de Prin was built 
under Henri IV; Richelieu lived in this building 
during his sojourn in Reims in 1641. — Maison de 
VEcu de Reims bears the date 1652. — Maison de 
Jean Maillefer, built in 1651. — Hotel Lagoille de 
Courtagnon has a fagade of the XVII century. — 
Hotel Rogier, built towards 1750; sold at public 
auction, in January, 19 14. — ^Two wooden houses 
with pointed gables of the end of the XV century, 
are in the Place des Marches. — An inscription on 



I20 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

the 'Hotel de la Maison-Rouge states that the 
father and mother of Jeanne d'Arc were lodged 
in this building at public expense in 1429, at the 
coronation of Charles VII. It was then known 
as the Ane Raye. — The Societe des Amis du Vieux 
Reims maintained an extensive collection of objects 
relating to Reims in the former Hotel Coquehert. 
The Porte de Mars, a Roman triumphal arch of 
three arches, is the most considerable monument 
in Reims dating from Roman times. 

EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS 

Grand Seminaire, occupies the buildings of the 
former abbey of St. Denis. The original parts 
are of the time of 'Louis XV; they were con- 
siderably modified and added to in 1822, when the 
seminary took possession of them. It later served 
as the Musee des Beaux-Arts, inaugurated in 19 13. 

The Lycee occupies the buildings of the Univer- 
sity or college founded by the Cardinal of Lorraine 
in the XVI century, and rebuilt in 1676. Although 
greatly changed, the interior court, half wood, 
half masonry, retains the original aspect of the 
XVI century. Much new construction was added 
at the end of the last century. 

HOSPITALS 

Hotel-Dieu [Civil Hospital], founded by arch- 
bishop Hincmar in 848, was transferred to the 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 121 

buildings of the abbey of St. Remi in 1827. 
Repaired and rebuilt at various times, they retain 
few vestiges of the middle ages. They were 
partly renewed after a fire in 1774. Burned in the 
bombardment of August 13, 19 16. — Hopital 
General, occupies the former college of the Jesuits, 
the older parts dating from the XVII century. 
The former library, now the linen room, is an 
apartment of some magnificence. It adjoins the 
church of St. Maurice. — Hopital St. Marcoul, or 
home for incurables, dates from about 1650; it 
was added to in 165 1, 1869 and 1873. — Maison 
de Retraite, a modern foundation due to bequests 
and munificent gifts. 

OTHER BUILDINGS 

Palais de Justice, built in 1845, ^^ ^^e site of 
the old Hotel Dieu; a new facade was recently 
added. — Theatre, built between 1 866-1 873. — 
Chamhre de Commerce occupies the former 
Hotel Clicquot-Ponsardin, in the style of Louis 
XVI. 



The Destructions of the 
Buildings of Reims 

WHILE the material for a survey of the 
destruction of the buildings of Reims is 
not yet available, the following notes may 
be found of interest in forming a judgment on the 
effects of the bombardment, and its military use- 
lessness. The record is manifestly incomplete, for 
practically the entire city has been destroyed. 

THE CATHEDRAL 
-^ I9I4 

September 4. The window glass in the aisle of 
the north transept was broken by a bomb falling in 
the adjoining street. Other shells fell directly on 
the cathedral, striking the gable of the north tran- 
sept; the upper nave windows were pierced, and 
the rose window over the central west portal. Some 
of the portal statues, including the Virgin of the 
group of the Visitation, and an apostle of the south 
porch were broken. There were various external 
indications of projectiles and minor injuries. 

September ly. Three shells fell on the cathe- 
dral, striking the stone gallery and roof of the 
north transept; the chevet was subjected to similar 
injury, and the glass of the choir chapel windows 
was destroyed. 

122 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS I 23 

September 18. Thirteen shells fell on the cathe- 
dral. The windows of the south aisle of the nave 
to the transept were broken, many being emptied 
of their ancient glass. The buttresses on the south 
side were mutilated in their lower parts, and many 
of the pinnacles broken off or destroyed. The 
flying buttress at the angle of the choir and north 
transept was entirely destroyed. The stone gallery 
surrounding the base of the nave roof was ruined 
in many places, and parts of it thrown onto the 
roof created other injuries and broke windows. 

September ig. The day of the fire. Sixteen 
shells on the cathedral, one on the summit of the 
north tower. At 2:30 P. M. (the exact hour 
varies in different accounts) an incendiary bomb 
set afire the scaffolding erected in May, 19 13, for 
the repair of this tower. Although not the first 
catastrophe, it was the most serious. The fire 
spread with great rapidity, the great roof, with its 
magnificent internal woodwork of the fifteenth 
century, was wholly consumed. The "Clocher a 
PAnge", at the furthest extremity of the roof, and 
which dated from 1485, fell. Its name was derived 
from a copper angel formerly on the summit, 
removed for security in i860. The carillon on the 
low tower at the crossing of the nave and transept, 
and which had been re-established by the Academie 
Nationale de Reims, was destroyed. Much of the 
old glass in the upper windows, dating from the 



124 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

thirteenth century, was destroyed, as well as much 
of the external sculpture. The internal injuries 
were also very grave. The cathedral was filled with 
straw, requisitioned by the German command for 
the use of wounded German soldiers It was pro- 
posed to place within the church, but who were only 
taken there after the evacuation; some of them lost 
their lives in the fire. The greater part of the 
Interior furniture was destroyed, including the 
eighteenth century woodwork of the choir, together 
with the stalls and the archieplscopal throne. A 
tapestry of the coronation of Charles X was lost. 
The remarkable sculptures surrounding the interior 
of the nave doorway were ruined. 

September 24. Three bombs struck the cathe- 
dral, one of which fell on the vault of the crossing, 
bared by the fire of September 19. One struck the 
third buttress on the south side of the nave. 

October 12. A bomb of large calibre fell on the 
high gallery of the chevet, ruining eight metres of 
the arcading. Two gargoyles of the chevet were 
broken off. 

October /j. A shell fell on the north side of 
the cathedral at 3 P. M. 

November 11. A bomb fell near the cathedral, 
enveloping it in thick clouds of smoke. 

November 12. A shell exploded on the roof, 
demolishing a pinnacle on the south side of the 
chevet, and damaging some sculptures. Shrapnel 
fell within near the high altar. 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS I 25 

November 22. Two shells fell on the super- 
structure, accomplishing no great harm. 

1915 

February 26. Two shells fell on the cathedral. 

March 28. A Taube dropped a bomb on the 
cathedral apse. 

June I. The ''Communique Officlel" of this 
date, for 3 P. M., says the cathedral was par- 
ticularly bombarded. This is not mentioned in the 
local reports. 

June 75. Several shells fell on the cathedral. 

1917 

April 75. 1 5 shells fell on the cathedral. The 
chapel of the Cardinal ruined. 

April ig. 20 shells on the cathedral. The 
north tower, vaults and transept injured. 

The cathedral was subjected to other injuries on 
April 20 (2 shells), April 21 (8 shells), April 22 
(3 shells), April 23 and April 24. The angle of 
the south transept and the chevet was particularly 
hurt on the date last named. 

PALAIS ARCHIEPISCOPAL 

Burned on September 19, 19 14, In which the 
cathedral was so seriously injured. The building 
was almost wholly destroyed. The chapel lost Its 
roof and glass. The library and collections of the 



126 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

Academie Nationale de Reims, which were housed 
in the palace, were lost, together with the archeo- 
logical collections, including the prehistoric collec- 
tion (Collection Po^teaux) and the ethnographic 
collection (Musee Guillot) . 

ST. REMI 

Injured in the bombardment of September 4, 
19 14. The vault of the south transept fell through, 
the ancient glass of the apse triforium and of the 
upper nave windows was broken, as well as the 
modern glass of the apse chapels windows, and in 
other parts. The interior was ruined, the losses 
including .a painting "The Entry of Clovis to 
Reims" and one of the tapestries of the "Life of 
St. Remi". The chapel facing the baptismal font 
suffered some exterior injury. 

A bomb destroyed the apse chapel of Notre 
Dame de I'Usine et de I'Atelier on November 16, 
19 14. On August 13, 19 16, the church was 
menaced by the fire of the Hotel Dieu (Civil 
Hospital) . Flames attacked the north transept, 
destroying the glass of the rose window. 

OTHER CHURCHES 

St. Andre. On September 19, 19 14, a bomb fell 
on the left transept portal, breaking the glass in 
near-by parts; painting of "The Baptism of 
Clovis" lost. September 22, 19 14, a shell fell on 



THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS I 27 

the church at 1 1 A. M. April 15, 19 17, It caught 
fire, and it was again injured on April 28. 

St. Jean Baptiste de la Salle. 3 shells fell on this 
church in the bombardment of December, 19 14. 
The glass was broken and the interior injured. 

St. Clotilde. September 22, 19 14, most of the 
glass ruined by a near-by shell. January 4, 19 15, 
injured by 4 bombs. 

St. Benoit. 3 shells In January, 19 15. 

St. Genevieve. Injured in the bombardment of 
April 15, 1917. 

CIVIC BUILDINGS 

Hotel de Ville. Lost the glass of the west side 
September 14, 19 14. Received several shells In 
the bombardment of September 19, 19 14. A fire 
started, but no essential Injury resulted. It was 
gravely Injured April 21, 19 17, and was destroyed 
by fire on May 3. 

Palais de Justice. Lost the glass of its main 
facades September 4, 19 14. A shell fell through 
the roof on October 2, 19 14, injuring the interior; 
both fagades were hurt, especially the newer one. 
February 3, 19 16, some fragments of French shells 
fell on the building. September 18, 19 16, a bomb 
fell through the roof and upper story. 

Hotel Dieu [Civil Hospital]. Some shells fell 
on the buildings on September 18, 19 14; two 
patients were killed and another buried under 



128 THE BOMBARDMENT OF REIMS 

debris; two nurses were badly wounded. On 
August 13, 1916, the Hospital caught fire in the 
bombardment and was destroyed save for two 
pavillions. 

Theatre. The lantern was destroyed in the 
bombardment of September 4, 19 14, and the 
chandelier suspended from it fell down. A bomb 
fell on the building on October 5, 19 14. 

Musee des Beaux-Arts. Injured September 4, 
19 14, by three bombs on the west front. Much 
interior damage and many valuable paintings lost. 

Sous-Prefecture. Burned September 18, 19 14. 

Place Royale. Many of the buildings surround- 
ings this place were burned in the bombardment of 
September 19, 1914. 

Hotel de la Salle. Injured by a shell in 
November, 19 14. 

Gothic House in Rue de Vesle. Wholly ruined 
in the catastrophe of September 19, 19 14. 



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